"Pak Lah Overstaying His Welcome," Says Dr Mahathir. Is This True?
Malaysia's former premier Mahathir Mohamad said Wednesday he never intended his successor Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to serve more than one term and suggested he should stand down.Abdullah, who has had a very public falling out with the veteran leader, will contest for his second term in general elections expected to be held in March.
Mahathir previously said he made a mistake in picking Abdullah, and should have opted for influential deputy prime minister Najib Razak.
"That was my thinking, since (Abdullah) was older than Najib, he should be PM for one term and then Najib should be able to take over," he told a press conference.
"I know it takes time to implement plans and projects but I think if that is to be used as an excuse to stay in power for 18 years then that will not be very welcome."
Abdullah won a landslide victory in 2004 polls when voters were enthused by his plans to fight corruption, but since then he has been widely criticised for inaction and suffered a steep tumble in popularity.
In recent months he has faced an unprecedented wave of public protests over the rights of minority ethnic Indians, as well as electoral reform and rising food and fuel prices.
"They see a government that is retreating and they want to take advantage," Mahathir said of the street rallies which would have been unthinkable during his term in power which ended in 2003 after more than two decades.
Abdullah was Mahathir's hand-picked successor when he stepped down, but after the new leader dumped several of his pet projects he began launching accusations of economic mismanagement, nepotism and corruption. (AFP report)
***** Who is more culpable for our national disunity? The choice is yours. If hypothetically Pak Lah does step down, would you agree to Dr M's choice of Najib as the next PM? Reading the above report many would be really glad that Dr Mahathir is no more in power and should remain quietly in the background without attempting to dictate terms and play kingmaker.
Dr Mahathir's attitude and intolerance comes out clearly when he speaks about street rallies, "they see a government that is retreating and they want to take advantage." Taking advantage mind you! Not an iota of concern shown for the biasness of the Election Commission or the discrimination faced by minorities, which were the principal reasons for the rallies. But then again he can't directly discuss these issues as he was the one who nurtured these injustices into 'adulthood' while he was the undisputed ruler. And not to forget the whole Lingamgate controversy which dramatically showed the deep shit our judiciary is in, no thanks to Dr M's brand of politics. Retired he is and retired he should remain.
Image - Source
Labels: Dr Mahathir., Malaysian Politics., Pak Lah
posted by The Malaysian. at 1/30/2008 05:52:00 PM
10 Comments:
I don't see why the Dr made such a fuss. He regrets to have picked AB as his successor and he says that AB has overstayed as PM.
Firstly, since he admits that it was his mistake to have chosen AB, then he should apologize to the people for his mistake. Secondly, who is he to decide for the people how long one can stay as PM?? And who is to decide for the nation who is to be the PM??
Mahathir is such a conceited man that he thinks he possesses the power to dictate who should be Malaysian PM in the future. I am sure AB would not cling on to power for as long as he did. Let people choose their leader; he should know what democracy is.
But isn't Malaysian politics about everything except democratic in principle and in practice. Look at the component parties notably UMNO, MCA and Gerakan, in the anointment of sucessors. The old chiefs choosing the "take=0ver" contrary to the democratic principle of allowing delegates to choose the new chiefs. From OKTing to Koh Tsu Koon. And even the prime minister is chosen by an elite of some 3,000 delegates and not by Malaysians. So now that the GE is near, voters should send a strong message to UMNO, what Malaysians want in a democracy and especially a better PM. Cronyism
Dr. M has has a far worse record than AB. When they say Mahathir muda lupa is correct. Mahathir is an absolute hypocrit. Evidence 1: Buy British product last: This is a very poor strategy. You should never antagonize any country. Evidence 2: Setting up Perwaja: The country lost loads of money. Evidence 3: Removing Privy Council: The country's judiciary system has lost its integrity. Evidence 4: Appointment of Chief Federal Court Judges: Mahathir has manipulated the whole appointment. Evidence 5: Setting up Proton: Another wasted investment. Evidence 6: Letting Mamak become Premier: Mamak's are hypocrit. For more than 20 over years, Mahathir Mamak did not want to declare Thaipusam as a holiday.
So, in a nutshell, Mamak Mahathir mudah lupa. Dont tell me u forgot that ur daughter married Semi Value's son. So, dont be a pot calling the kettle black story.
Mahathir, shut ur arse up.
Mahathir is the worst thing that happened to Malaysia. Just imagine if we had a better PM all those years. This may antagonise, but we may be almost as rich, clean and efficient as -dare I say it - Singapore!No matter what we say about that tiny red dot of a country, the fact is we started together as nations but look where they are now in terms of many things.And they only have a tiny piece of land to work on, while we have all the resources like oil, gas,timber, tin, sandy beaches and marine-rich islands, large tracts of rich land and water. Where did the $ from all these things go to?
Tun Mahathir has forgotten the he is no longer the Prime Minister? Don't forget its not the ex-prime minister or any one person who decides who be appointed the PM. May be Malaysia is an exception.
We must be fair to AB too. When he took over as PM his first job was to clean up the mess TDM left him. Unfortunately he underestimated the "shit" he inherited. Under Mahathir rule, Malaysia became more corrupted, less secured and more expensive to live. Those who worked hard and honestly become poorer. Dirty politicians and their cronies become dirtier and richer and without having to work (honestly). Measure his performance against Ghana and other African nations he looked great. Is he really qualified enough to judge AB?
Now he is suggesting to have Najib as the PM? Malaysia would be bankrupt in no time-judging from his performance as DPM and Minister of Defence。
We all pray that will not happen.
It's pretty easy to sort this mess (for it is a mess). In the coming Elections, vote them all out.
However, based on our past history, we will vote for them again & this "viscious" cycle of corruption, cronysm, undemocratic practices, Judicial & Police corruption, etc, etc (you can go on & on) will never end (like the NEP!).
Malaysia is not his property. How can he has the cheek to say that he gave Abdullah one term and that it must be passed on to Najib? It is shameful that the former leader uttered such nonsense.
The PM better watch out...Dr. M is ready to get rid of hAAB & place his "blue-eyed boy" (i.e. Najib) on the throne!
I am no politician but to all of you ungrateful & ignorant idiots. Let me remind you about the great things Dr M did and change the face of the country.
1. The superior races of the world came to respect the Malaysians becoz of his bold words and intelligence.
2. The mega projects he did, if given to each an evryone of you here will never materialise, and 90% of the fund goes into your pocket. Don't mind him if he take some for himself. E.g. If the guests at your party compliments you for the great taste of the food you served, but cooked by your chef who did more than he should. Would you mind if the good chef take some of the food he had cooked, home for his kids? I wouldn't.
Let me list & remind you the things he did to make our nation be recognised through out the world.
1. Penang Bridge
2. National Car
3. North South Hi-Way
4. Tallest twin tower
5. Bringing in F1
6. KLIA
7. LRT & Monorail
8. Defying IMF and bullishly restabilising our economic state (Look what happenend to Thailand or Indon during the downturn)
9. The intention behind Bakun project (has been shelved by AB). (Why don't you go find out why France is rich even with so limited resources they have from their land?)
10. Langkawi & LIMA. Those Kedahans who voted for the oppositon are the worst than humane. I can still recall drivng through the old main road and they were bathing, washing & consume water irrigated for padi fields. I wonder if they got electricity that time.
11. Not to mention the great knowledge you gain from the internet or watching Astro you couch potatoes are enjoying up til today. So this is what you've become?
I could go on & on with the list...
Even the Presidents of the World and Bush respect him. Who the hell you so called learned people think you are critisizing him like that.
So, a little respect for the man please... Not another bad wording about him.
Now you smart alecs out there, list out for us what AB has done so far?
1. ? Emm.....
All the previous PM has been symbolise as Bapa Kemerdekaan to Bapa so on & so forth.
Let me give you a simple task. I am not asking you to handle any mini project far fetch from a mega one. Your task is to find a symbolic name for AB as Bapa what?
So start using you rusted brain and think of the approriate one for him!!!!
3.
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