Wanted: New Malaysian PM, Part 3

The noose is tightening. Embattled Malaysian PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has lost another tussle in the wake of the disastrous national elections on Mar 8.

He's decided to call a party poll at this end of this year, although one of his strongest supporters had tried to push it to next year to avoid another bloodbath. He also lost the fight with the Malaysian king over the appointment of the chief minister of the oil-rich state of Terengganu.

He's losing grip of his own party, the United Malays National Organisation, his cabinet, and the national ruling coalition Barisan Nasional over a spate of issues.

He has not endeared himself to many Malaysians despite having taken over the country in good shape from former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2003.

As pointed out by the AFP report, Badawi claimed a mandate to rule despite the election losses, but observers say he is on borrowed time as calls for his resignation persist.

The report added that he won a landslide victory in 2004 elections, but was punished in the latest polls over high inflation, rising crime rates and ethnic tensions in the multicultural nation.

Remember Dr M?

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad may have bagged some foreign honours recently but he's still not treated like a statesman back in his own country.

He made it to the cover of the October 30 issue of Time Magazine. The cover story gave him the platform for him to voice his grouses against successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. But the article also criticised Dr M for his past excesses as the country's longest-serving premier.

And on Nov 19, Dr M became the first Malaysian to receive the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice, according to The Star. Mukhriz received the award on behalf of his father, who is still recuperating from a mild heart attack. Dr Mahathir’s personal assistant Adzlin Azhar reportedly said the award was given in recognition of Dr Mahathir’s efforts in pushing through national unity in a multiracial and multireligious country.

But Dr M was not garlanded.

Instead of analysing some of the points raised by Dr M, delegates at the recent general assembly of United Malays National Organisation simply ignored the old man.

Can't blame them completely because Badawi has postponed the party election until after the national elections. So, anyone who doesn't toe the line faces the danger of being dropped from the line-up in the general elections, which are not due until 2009.

Everyone has to toe the line even though many people feel there is merit in some of Dr M's arguments. And many probably feel that the country can do better under the current regime.

Dr M Giving Umno Meet a Miss

According to The Star, former Malaysian PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad will give the general assembly of the United Malays National Organisation on Monday a miss after recovering from his mild heart attack. The former PM and Umno president looks good in The Star picture although the report said he seemed weak during the 20-minute interview.

(Pix: The Star)
Dr M, 81, definitely needs to take it easier at his age and after his second heart attack, and choose his battle more selectively. He can still be a useful watchdog of Malaysia and the rest of the world.

In the case of Malaysia, most of his criticisms of the current administration warrant a scrutiny although some feel that the "pensioner" should stay mum. They include issues like the much abused Approved Permit car import system, the need for national carmaker Proton to get a foreign strategic partner, the need to step up and distribute more equitably government development expenditure, the need to rein in nepotism and cronyism, and the need to build a new bridge to replace the old causeway linking southern Malaysia and Singapore.

In the international arena, Dr M continues to provide a necessary Asian voice in the world dominated by Western and American agenda. For example, the US President George Bush, who ordered the invasion of Iraq in 2003, was quick to endorse the Iraqi court decision last week to sentence former President Saddam Hussein to death for "for crimes against humanity for the killings and torture of hundreds of Shi'ites".

Dr M's equally quick response: "A court set up by his enemies has no right to try Saddam Hussein. A court set up by an illegal occupying power has no jurisdiction whatsoever to conduct the said proceedings."

Mahathir reportedly added that if the verdict was right, then US President Bush and British PM Tony Blair should also be tried "for the unlawful invasion and occupation of Iraq, the death of over 650,000 Iraqis and the brutal torture of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay."

PS: Blair has said he opposed the death penalty for Saddam following the Iraqi court decision.

Dr M Recovering

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is recovering from his mild heart attack and has been moved out of the intensive care unit, according to media reports and bloggers in the country.

The Star said he's been receiving a steady stream of visitors such as Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin and former political foe Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Unfortunately, some quarters think the heart attack wasn't real, and it was just a ploy to avoid going to the general assembly of the United Malays National Organisation next week amid his bickering with successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Dad doesn't believe so. He thinks that Dr M will still love to attend the meeting although many Umno members are likely to back the Umno leader of the day blindly.

Hope he gets well soon.