Pak Lah Congratulates Dr M On 51st Wedding Anniversary

Malaysia's prime minister congratulated his predecessor, Mahathir Mohamad, on his wedding anniversary, striking a surprise conciliatory note in a high-profile spat that has virtually destroyed their friendship.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced at the end of a dinner speech Sunday that it was also the 51st wedding anniversary of the former leader and his wife, Siti Hasmah Ali.

Mahathir, who shared the dinner table with Abdullah, beamed as the announcement drew applause from an audience of hundreds of international dignitaries and officials attending the Langkawi International Dialogue, a three-day gathering of government leaders and corporate figures.

Abdullah congratulated Mahathir and paid tribute to the couple's long union, calling it "a smart partnership" and adding that he wanted to wish Mahathir, 82, "a long life."

Mahathir later told Malaysia's national news agency, Bernama, that he was grateful for the courtesy, adding that he had thought Abdullah was not even aware of the anniversary.

The two men were once close friends and partners in government.

However, Mahathir, who hand-picked Abdullah to lead Malaysia when he retired in 2003, has repeatedly blasted Abdullah's policies in the past 1 1/2 years, accusing his successor of corruption, nepotism and mismanaging the economy. Abdullah has rejected Mahathir's allegations.

Mahathir congratulated Abdullah in June when he remarried after his first wife died of cancer in 2005.

Among the leaders who attended Sunday's banquet were Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Swaziland King Mswati III. (International Herald Tribune)

***** Perhaps this is the Malaysian style of smoking the peace pipe. Anything is possible in politics especially with general elections not too far off.
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