Pak Lah Dazzles At 2007 LID

It was certainly heartening to see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's natural warmth shining through the entire proceedings of the just-concluded Langkawi International Dialogue.

Even more touching was the warmth that radiated between Abdullah and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad right from Day One.

For Dr Mahathir, it must have been comforting to see his successor, Abdullah, soldiering on with the ideals of the "smart partnership" dialogue.

Abdullah's felicitations to Dr Mahathir and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali on their 51st wedding anniversary surprised the couple, who deeply appreciated Abdullah's thoughtful gesture at the opening of the 2007 LID.

When asked about the Prime Minister's good wishes, Dr Mahathir said he was grateful.

"Terima kasihlah, saya tak sangka dia tahu (Thank you, I didn't expect him to know that)," he said.

For Dr Mahathir, he too was magnanimous in his remarks prior to the start of the Dialogue when he said Abdullah had chosen an appropriate theme for LID 2007 - Poverty Eradication through Human Capital Development and Capacity Building.

Abdullah was also gracious in passing over his turn to speak to Dr Mahathir after he was invited by Swaziland's King Mswati III to do so on the last day of the LID.

Abdullah's gallant and respectful gesture not only caught delegates by surprise, but also sent newsmen covering the event to train their focus on where Dr Mahathir was seated.

And there was more to come.

The two later walked together in a jovial mood for lunch at the Berjaya Langkawi Beach & Spa Resort and their joyful disposition certainly brightened up the warm sunny skies of Langkawi.

Read the entire report from Bernama HERE.
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