Pak Lah Wants 'To Do The Right Things' Before Leaving Office

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Thursday he wants to do the right things despite any challenges before leaving office after five years rendering his services to the nation.

"I don't know if it's about leaving a legacy or just doing the right thing while you have a chance to do so. This is what I am doing," he said in an interview with The Sun newspaper.

Abdullah said he would let the people be the judge.

"If the people say what Pak Lah (Abdullah) is doing is good, well and good," he said.

Abdullah said when he decided on the development of soft infrastructure - the heart, the human being - a long time friend had told him to chose something tangible.

However, he said he was unfazed by this as he believed that 2020 could not be achieved without quality and dynamic human capital.

"I hope everyone as human beings just remember to do what is right, no matter how difficult it may seem," he said.

On freedom of speech, Abdullah said he had given the space but wanted it to come with responsibility.

"If you want to exercise your right to speak, yes, go ahead but you must be mindful of your responsibilities. You claim the right to speak, you must also listen to others," he added. (Bernama)

***** Ironic isn't it? Pak Lah achieved diddly-squat for the five years he'd been in power and now just when he's being shown the door by his own party he wants to 'do the right things'! Pitiful bugger. Indecisive till the end.

Umno General Assembly Postponed To March, Says PM. Will Decide By October 9 On Defending His Post

The Umno general assembly has been postponed to March next year, party president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

Abdullah, who chaired a special Umno supreme council meeting here Friday morning, however, said that the Umno divisional elections would go an as scheduled from Oct 9 to Nov 9.

The Umno division general assembly was earlier slated for Dec 16 to 20.

Pak Lah also added that the 2010 handover deadline is no longer firm and that he will decide before October 9 if he will defend the Umno president's post.

The meeting at the PWTC centred on the issue of the transition of power between party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Najib.

It was speculated that the meeting would discuss an early transition plan and the the possibility of party polls being postponed to June.

It's obvious that some sort of compromise has been achieved and the details of what exactly transpired at the meeting would be out soon. But the initial feeling is that Pak Lah is being clearly shown the door and elbowed out of office

Direct Negotiations 'Soon' Between Anwar and Pak Lah, Says Tian Chua. Is This True?

From Reuters

Malaysia's opposition said on Tuesday it has opened talks with the government over the current political impasse but added it was still early to talk about a power transfer.

"We managed to break through in some discusssions through a third party and soon a direct negotiation will happen between Abdullah and Anwar," said Tian Chua, information chief of Anwar Ibrahim's Parti Keadilan Rakyat, said.

One of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's political secretaries said there were no such talks as far as he was aware.

***** How much credence can we give to this claim by Tian Chua? Could the PM already be in secret 'third party' wheeling and dealing with the Pakatan leadership?

One question that should be asked is whether it is possible for Pak Lah to unilaterally go into negotiations with the opposition and get the best deal for himself? As PM does he legally require the formal approval of his party before he discusses politics with Anwar?

Among the formidable powers that the PM enjoys is the constitutional right to approach His Majesty and request the dissolution of Parliament and thus pave the way for the next general elections. If he does that without consultation, can the rest of Umno do anything about it? This is a potent weapon which he wields and can use if he feels that too many Umno leaders are getting out of line. After all which Umno pemimpin wants to face the electorate tomorrow? Any legal experts out there who can enlighten us?

Pak Lah Faces Calls To Quit After Anwar Victory

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi faced calls to quit from within his ruling party Wednesday after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim scored a landslide by-election victory.

Anwar won the vote to return to parliament despite an intense campaign mounted by the Barisan Nasional coalition, which he has promised to unseat within a month with the help of defecting lawmakers.

The failure to check Anwar has heaped more pressure on Abdullah, who has fought to hold on to his job since March general elections in which the opposition gained unprecedented ground.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, a senior member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) which leads the ruling coalition, called for a new leadership "to unite our people... and forge a clear national direction."

"(Abdullah) does not have the minimal credibility needed to run the country day by day, let alone to take it in the new directions we need to go in a complex world," he said. "This dangerous situation cannot continue."

Razaleigh said the coalition's by-election campaign, which was criticised for its racial overtones and focus on sodomy allegations against Anwar, has "embarrassed and divided the nation with its ugliness. It is time to face the music: it is we who have been buried," he said.

Razaleigh plans to challenge Abdullah for the party leadership in December polls, but is likely to fail after the premier silenced calls for his immediate ouster by agreeing to hand over power to his deputy Najib Razak in 2010.

Abdullah's main critic, former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, has also called for the resignation of his successor after relations between the two soured in 2006.

Mahathir's son Mukhriz, another senior UMNO figure who is vying for the top spot in the party's influential youth wing, also called for Abdullah's immediate resignation.

"I think Abdullah should strongly consider for all our sakes, to step down now," he told AFP.

"This is a second time that the Malaysian people have given a clear message, with the first at the general elections. It is a rejection of the present leader and he must leave now." (AFP)

***** Two questions which should be asked at this point in time are:

1) If Pak Lah quits will things genuinely improve or will we have to put up with more of the same race-baiting and corrupt governance as before? Chances are that without Pak Lah things may actually become worse especially for non-Malays.

2) Shouldn't Najib too be urged to resign after the election debacle since he was in charge of the 'ops' to ensure Anwar's defeat?

For the future wellbeing of our country, the only safe remedy is for BN to be ousted at the earliest, the nation be allowed to start anew with a clean slate and the quick implementation of safeguards to prevent the resurgence of Umno-style racism and divide-and-rule.

PM Says ACA 'Efficient'. Who Is He Trying To Kid?

From The Star

The Anti-Corruption Agency’s latest arrest of six people, including two Perak state exco members, is proof of the agency’s increased efficiency due to improvements to its enforcement capacity, says the Prime Minister.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi brushed off comments by some PKR people who questioned the timing of the arrest coming during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign, and said it was a mere coincidence.

Abdullah said the ACA investigations and arrests had nothing to do with the Government.

“That is the ACA’s intelligence. Surely they cannot just watch someone committing a crime and do nothing. Because they know a crime has been committed, they act,” he said after chairing the 4th National Water Resource Council in Parliament yesterday.

He added that the ACA did not inform him prior to the arrest.

“There is no need to inform me. This is their job and I heard it from the news,” he said.

***** The whole report is littered with misleading statements and half-truths by Pak Lah.

Example 1: The timing of the arrest coming during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign is a mere coincidence. (Does he really expect us to believe that crap?)

Example 2: The ACA investigations and arrests had nothing to do with the Government. (Oh really!?!)

Example 3: The ACA cannot just watch someone committing a crime and do nothing. (Isn't that what these buggers have been doing all these years? Sleeping on the job and leaping into action and barking loudly when the government gives the green light)

Example 4: The ACA didn't inform me. I heard it from the news!!!. (Come on man! Even the politically naive rural bumpkin will have a tough time digesting this piece of ridiculous bullshit)

DPM Najib says: No political agenda in arrest

Poll: Pak Lah's Popularity Falls To New Low

Public confidence in Malaysia's political and economic future has dwindled dramatically in recent months, with the prime minister's popularity hitting an all-time low, a survey showed Friday.

The independent Merdeka Center research firm found that only 28 percent of registered voters polled in July felt encouraged by the country's direction, a severe fall from 68 percent in late February.

The center said its nationwide survey of 1,030 adults was conducted by telephone July 4-14 and had a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.

Fifty-four percent were displeased with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's performance, compared to 42 percent who were satisfied — Abdullah's worst approval rating since he took office in 2003, said the center's director Ibrahim Suffian.

The results follow a public backlash over the government's decision to hike gasoline prices by 41 percent in June and persistent uncertainties after Abdullah's ruling coalition lost its longtime political dominance in March general elections.

"People feel bad about economic issues. They are concerned that the political bickering in this country is not helping to generate solutions," Ibrahim told The Associated Press.

Only 8 percent of respondents said current consumer prices were acceptable and 20 percent expect the economy to improve next year, highlighting the impact of inflation that spiraled to 7.7 percent in June. It was the steepest climb in more than 27 years.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Abdullah acknowledged the problem of inflation has become "regarded as a weakness of the government today," adding that his administration is considering lowering retail fuel prices despite its high subsidy bill.

In another blow to the government, 66 percent of respondents thought that a recent sodomy accusation against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was politically motivated to disrupt his career, the Merdeka Center said.

Anwar insists the accusation by his 23-year-old former aide was part of a government plot, but Abdullah and other leaders deny any conspiracy. Police completed their investigation into the allegation Thursday, but government prosecutors have not announced if Anwar would be charged.

Only 11 percent of the Merdeka Center's respondents believed the sodomy accusation, compared with 55 percent who thought it was false. The others were unsure or did not respond. Only 31 percent were confident that police would handle the case in a fair and transparent manner. (International Herald Tribune)

***** Is anyone really surprised with these findings? The truly sad part is that even the figures given above will do precious little to wake up the snoozing PM.
Image - Source

PM Okays Mercedes For Terengganu Government, Says MB

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has given his blessings to the state government to use the Mercedes E200 Kompressors as official cars.

Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said this at a press conference here today.

A few days earlier the Terengganu state government had defended the purchase of 14 Mercedes E200 Kompressor cars at RM3.43mil for the use of its state executive councillors and senior officials.

Ahmad Said had said that the state government had planned to purchase the cars for 'a long time' to replace its Proton Perdana V6 Executive fleet in a move to cut cost.

The deputy prime minister had waded into the issue by saying that the cabinet, among others, would discuss whether the move was appropriate, while adding that "I'm using the national car and the prime minister too, is using the national car."

Given that statement what exceptional situation has made Ahmad Said so special to be given the 'PM's blessings'? It in fact sets a very bad precedent and the PM should have been more careful in allowing the state government to get away with this financial misadventure.

Even at this critical juncture in Pak Lah's career he seems unable to display any leadership qualities, especially the political will to take an unpopular decision against a fellow umnoputera.

ACA On Right Track In Tackling Corruption, Says PM

The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is right on track in the efforts to tackle corruption at all levels with the arrest of several senior goverment officers suspected to be involved in corruption, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The prime minister said it showed that the ACA was taking actions without fear or favour even though those suspected of corruption were holding influential positions in the government.

"But I've also said to the ACA, do be careful and they must be sure (before making any arrest).

"Once an ACA officer walks into anyone's office, it will be easy for people to make assumptions," he told Bernama and Radio RTM in a special interview at Sri Perdana, the prime minister's official residence here, yesterday.

Abdullah was asked to comment on the arrest of a director-general of a government agency and his deputy on Friday and yesterday respectively as well as several other individuals for allegedly receiving bribes in the issuance of work permits to foreign workers.

A total of 20 people including middlemen, agents and runners have been arrested as of yesterday in connection with the case.

The prime minister was confident that at the rate ACA was going, more cases could be detected. (Bernama)

***** For some reason the green signal to arrest the senior officials was given only now. One must wonder why these pegawai2 have suddenly gone out of favour at this moment, especially since the government and its watchdogs have all this while been maintaining a strict hands-off and both-eyes-closed approach to civil service graft. Didn't they play ball with the politicos or share the loot? Or God forbid, they actually went it alone!

Can one be termed as cynical for having doubts about the sincerity of the ACA in investigating more cases of outright corruption? Politicians, including Umno ministers have over the years cast suspicion on the goings-on in the Immigration Department but absolutely nothing was done. In fact at one time the deputy home affairs minister was even threatened by senior immigration officers of dire consequences if he continued to publicly upbraid them and question their integrity. The deputy minister rightly or wrongly kept his mouth shut after that ultimatum. For such is the power that these officials enjoy, while zealously preserving absolute Malay control of a crucial government department.

Repeat Of 2004 Landslide Election Win By BN Possible, Says PM!

Confidence
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has confidence that Malaysians can help Barisan Nasional win big in the next general election similar to the 2004 historical victory.

He also stated that the disastrous results of the March election was a blessing in disguise, adding that there was a lesson to be learnt from it all.

He suggested that if Malaysians could change their attitude and refuse to be beaten, repeating the historical 2004 general elections results was possible.

"I'm used to making history that leaders before me had not achieved. The 2004 general election was the best but the 2008 result was the worst which no leader before me had achieved," he said.

Together with positive thinking, he said, the implementation of objectives should also be in order to succeed.

"There are always challenges and lessons. Losing does not matter; there is a blessing behind all these. Don't poison our minds with ideas that kill initiatives and make us lose confidence in ourselves; think that we can do it and we will succeed," he said Saturday when addressing thousands of people from over 80 non-governmental organisations who came in droves to show support for Abdullah here.

Abdullah also suggested that Malaysians upgrade their standard of living, adding that there were many opportunities to develop and progress. He believed that he could help Malaysians, particularly the Malays, adopt a change of attitude and work towards progress.

He said three or four years before former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad retired, the latter had apologised in a party meeting stating that he could make many changes but not change the attitude of his race.

"Deep down I had told myself that if I am destined to be the next leader, I would work towards that," he said.

He told the people that one had to change and want to succeed while emulating the struggles of the disabled to live.

Abdullah ended his speech with three shouts of "Hidup Malaysia" and the people replied with "Hidup Pak Lah." (The Star Online)

***** Pak Lah apparently is much more optimistic than the average Malaysian about the fortunes of Umno and the BN. While the BN component parties are themselves increasingly worried about their relevance as well as their future role in the changing climate of politics, the PM's confidence must be pretty reassuring for them. However whether this confidence is founded on reality is of course open to question.

No-Confidence Motion Against Pak Lah At 3PM Today

Opposition leader Datin Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR- Permatang Pauh) is expected to file a no-confidence vote in Parliament against the Prime Minister under an emergency motion at 3pm today.

While there has been some speculation that a no-confidence vote was in the offing, this sudden announcement comes like a bolt from the blue.

What has prompted the decision to go for a vote at this point in time is unclear but suffice to say that PKR will not venture into such a risky move without considerable deliberation and some strong back-up. After the disappointing turnout at the recent rally to protest the fuel price hike, another poor performance by the opposition would not be of much help to its cause or credibility.

More on the above as events unfold.
Image - Source
Update from The Star: Speaker to decide on no confidence motion on Monday

Pak Lah To Retire In June 2010?

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will announce plans to retire in June 2010, a move aimed at ending months of political uncertainty that have unnerved investors, a news website said on Thursday.

The embattled premier is expected to announce the handover date to his deputy Najib Razak at a party meeting on Thursday, the influential Malaysian Insider (www.themalaysianinsider.com) said without citing sources.

Abdullah laid out a timeline "because he believed that setting a date would bring some semblance of certainty to Malaysia and reduce the level of politicking which has upset many Malaysians and foreign investors", the website report said.

The Malaysian Insider website is run by several individuals, including an ex-journalist, known to be close to Abdullah.

The policy-making body of Abdullah's ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party is scheduled to hold a regular meeting at 0700 GMT on Thursday.

A spokesman from the prime minister's office said he was unaware of any timetable for the premier to step down.

De facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim declined to comment on the report.

Abdullah has been under pressure to quit since the ruling coalition suffered its worst electoral setback in 50 years in a March poll. Growing discontent against his leadership, street protests against a fuel price hike and allegations of sex and murder in the government and opposition have rattled investors.

A resurgent opposition, led by Anwar, has been snapping at Abdullah's heels with claims that it has won enough support to form a new government by September.

The Malaysian stock market has lost more than four percent in the past week roiled by the events in the political arena. By 0246 GMT on Thursday, it was down 0.3 percent at 1,135.98 points. (Reuters India)

***** While one cannot vouch for the accuracy of that report, if true, it'll give some space for the PM to set in motion a couple of much needed reforms in the next 23 months. But whether he has the political will to do it is the million ringgit question.

Iraq To Sue In U.S. Courts Over Massive Oil-For-Food Embezzlement. Will Pak Lah Be Implicated?

Iraq is expected to file an oil-for-food lawsuit in U.S. courts, seeking to recover damages against the Iraqi people brought upon them by the corruption within the UN program under Saddam’s rule.

The Iraqi government announced today that it intends to file suit in United States courts to recover funds allegedly embezzled from the United Nations oil-for-food program during Saddam Hussein’s rule.

A statement by government spokesman Ali Dabbagh said the lawsuits would target companies and individuals that conspired to corrupt the U.N. program.

Dabbagh did not name any companies or say how much the government hoped to gain by going to court, but his statement cited the findings of a 2005 U.N. inquiry into the program.

That investigation, headed by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul A. Volcker, concluded that 2,400 companies and individuals participated in fraud that included $1.8 billion in kickbacks to Hussein.

After the inquiry several of those named were prosecuted in the U.S. and Europe, resulting in prison sentences for two Texas oilmen and restitution from several companies totaling 10 of millions of dollars.

But little has been done to recover larger sums from those named in the Volcker report in countries including Russia, China, Yemen, Egypt, Vietnam, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.

Iraq is right to do so. But rest assured this will get ugly, and fast. The oil-for-food program was intended to allow humanitarian goods to reach Iraq while the country was under international sanctions after its invasion of Kuwait, which precipitated the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

***** There has been much speculation that Pak Lah was one of the individuals involved in this mega embezzlement. Although he has previously denied any involvement, it remains to be seen what will surface if the Iraqis go all out with their threat to sue.

Raising Fuel Prices An Inevitable Move, Says Pak Lah

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today he hoped the people would understand that the government's move to raise fuel prices recently was inevitable.

He said the government had to up the price of petrol by 78 sen to RM2.70 per litre and the price of diesel by RM1 to RM2.58 per litre on June 5 though it was never its intention to burden the people.

"The price of crude oil in the global market is continuing to rise and the government has been forced to increase its fuel subsidy," he said when addressing community leaders and senior government officers at a lunch in conjunction with his one-day visit to Kelantan today.

The prime minister said that though the government had to continue subsidising the rising fuel prices, it would not raise them again this year.

"We understand the problem faced by the people and are doing everything possible to ensure that the recent increase in fuel prices will not further burden them, and we give the assurance that the fuel prices will not be raised again (until the end of this year)," he said.

He said he would elaborate on the issue of higher fuel prices at his meeting with the people scheduled for tonight at the Kelantan Poverty Foundation in Padang Kala here. (Bernama)

***** Pak Lah - between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Dr Mahathir Outlines 'Master Plan' To Oust Pak Lah Without Losing Power

Malaysia's influential former premier Mahathir Mohamad urged disgruntled ruling party lawmakers not to defect to the opposition to oust the embattled prime minister, but to become independents.

In a de facto masterplan for toppling Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi without losing power, Mahathir said becoming independent lawmakers meant they could avoid opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim having a shot at the job.

Abdullah has come under intense pressure to step down since a humiliating setback for his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)-led coalition in March 8 general elections.

A three-party opposition alliance, unofficially led by 60-year-old Anwar, seized control of five states and a third of parliamentary seats.

Abdullah, however, insists he still has a mandate and will only discuss a transition of power to his deputy Najib Razak after party polls in December.

Mahathir urged UMNO lawmakers not to join opposition ranks in order to push Abdullah out but to become independent candidates instead.

"Say 35 of them come out (of UMNO), the government will collapse, the prime minister will have to resign and if Anwar tries to become the PM you don't give your votes to him," Mahathir said.

"If say Najib, if he has the guts, decides to step in and be the candidate for prime ministership, you can then give your 35 votes to him and he becomes the PM, no loss to anyone, except to Abdullah."

Mahathir, an 82-year-old veteran who resigned from UMNO two weeks ago, said he would not rejoin the party until Abdullah stepped down as party president and premier. He has been campaigning to oust Abdullah, his hand-picked successor, after the coalition's poor electoral results earlier this year.

Anwar, for his part, has said he is confident of attracting enough defecting government lawmakers to topple Abdullah's administration, but Mahathir brushed aside that claim.

"I think it's a pipe dream," he said.

"He has the money but he is not likely to get the support for crossing over. Crossing over is very painful." (AFP)

***** Dr Mahathir - from international statesman to exalted trouble maker. Sad.

Malaysia's Grand Economic Plan Hit By Politics, Apathy

Malaysia's plan for a showpiece economic zone in its south is in doubt because of the uncertain fate of the country's prime minister and a lukewarm response from big investors in nearby Singapore.

On paper, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's pet project to develop the 2,200 sq kms (850 sq miles) of land in southern Johor state into a economic zone to complement the rich but land-scarce city-state of Singapore looks good.

The area has so far drawn $10.5 billion in investment, much of it from the Middle East, riding on investor hopes the area will become a hinterland for the city-state the way that China's booming Shenzhen, once a tiny fishing village, complements neighbouring Hong Kong.

The Iskandar Malaysia zone, three times bigger than Singapore, would be Malaysia's largest economic zone. The government says it should create 800,000 jobs and attract $100 billion in investment over 25 years.

Its proponents say it could be Southeast Asia's answer to China's Pearl River delta, a manufacturing heartland that turns out more than a quarter of China's worldwide exports.

But Malaysia's track record in getting such grand projects off the ground is patchy and Singapore developers are looking to booming China and India instead, worried the plans will be shelved if Abdullah loses power.

"It's Abdullah's project. If he's not around, no one knows what's going to happen as different prime ministers will have different priorities," said Suan Teck Kin, an economist at Singapore's United Overseas Bank (UOB).

Abdullah's position weakened after the poor showing of his ruling coalition in March polls and speculation is rife he may be forced to resign.

"Given this kind of political vacuum in Malaysia, I don't think anyone will be rushing into Iskandar," said Song Seng Wun, a Singapore-based economist at Malaysian bank CIMB.

Expensive government development projects have been for years Malaysia's answer to regional economic disparities in a country spread over the Malay peninsula and parts of the island of Borneo.

Their success has been mixed at best. UOB's Suan cited a proposed IT zone near the capital Kuala Lumpur as an example of a project that is struggling after its sponsor and Abdullah's predecessor, Mahathir Mohamad, left office.

SINGAPORE WARY

State investment arm Khazanah Nasional, which has opened a marketing office in Singapore to promote the Iskandar zone, brushed off political concerns and said investors are committed to Malaysia.

Mainly Muslim Malaysia has been a magnet for Middle Eastern investors flush with petrodollars who have been snapping up banks, hotels and malls.

Abu Dhabi investment arm Mubadala Development Co is leading a consortium to develop a multi-billion dollar city within Iskandar. Kuala Lumpur has also established itself as a leading centre in Asia for the burgeoning Islamic Finance market.

But state-linked Singapore developers have been cool to Iskandar. Many analysts say for it to really take off, it needs Singapore firms such as CapitaLand to develop on land that costs as little as 1/30th of Singapore land.

"Singapore investments could be very crucial for Iskandar," said Malaysian political analyst Khoo Kay Peng. "Malaysia needs investments in high-technology areas such as biotech, rather than just a pure real estate play," he said.

Singapore developers are wary after they got burned by frequent and unexpected policy changes during Mahathir's reign, said the head of investments at one Singapore firm.

The two countries have a long history of strained relations dating back to 1963 when they gained independence from the British as a federation only to split up two years later.

At the time Singapore feared it could not survive on its own with no natural resources and squeezed into an area half the size of Greater London. But since then the island has established itself as a major Asian business and finance centre competing with Hong Kong.

However, it lacks a readily available pool of land and labour that booming southern China offers to Hong Kong, and south Malaysia's development plans aim to fill that void.

Yet rather than counting on its neighbours, Singapore has tried to overcome the lack of space by reclaiming land from the sea and shifting factories to the neighbouring Indonesian island of Batam.

Local firms in their quest for profits and growth are also looking further afield to booming economies of China, Vietnam and India. For example, a group of Singapore government-backed firms led by Keppel Corp is building an "eco-city" in China, while state firm Ascendas manages business parks in five Indian cities.

And despite Malaysian lobbying, Singapore's official response to the project did not go beyond forming a joint committee with its neighbour.

The plan also has its critics in Malaysia.

Mahatir, who still pulls considerable weight in local politics, recently described the blueprint as "a platform for Singapore to expand its sovereignty."

"In the end the area ... will be filled with Singaporeans and populated only with 15 percent of Malays," he said. (Reuters India)

Pak Lah - Tun Mahathir Spat; Do Not Involve The King, Says Dr M

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said here Thursday it was not necessary to involve the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to help resolve his spat with Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"This is a question of Umno politics. We should not take the issue to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong," he said when asked to comment on a suggestion by Umno veteran Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Tapa to seek the king's mediation in the dispute.

Abdul Aziz was quoted as saying today that the quarrel between Dr Mahathir and Abdullah had reached a stage where it could only be resolved by the intervention of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin as the mediator.

Dr Mahathir was approached for his comments after a dialogue session at the Nikkei International Conference on "The Future of Asia", here.

The former prime minister also said that he had no objections if Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wanted to meet him.

The dispute between Dr Mahathir and Abdullah reached a "shocking" stage last Monday when Dr Mahathir, who had served as Umno president for 22 years, announced that he was quitting the party after having lost confidence in Abdullah's leadership, and that he would only rejoin the party after Abdullah had stepped down as Umno president and prime minister.

Many quarters see the move as a last-ditch attempt by Dr Mahathir to remove Abdullah from Umno and the government. (Bernama)

***** I agree with Dr M that His Majesty should not be brought into the picture. This is a quarrel between politicians and it should be settled politically.

Malaysia PM Calls Emergency Talks

Malaysia's prime minister has called an emergency session of the ruling party's top policy-making body, seeking to stamp his authority after the dramatic defection of former premier Mahathir Mohamad.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was due to chair a special supreme council meeting of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) on Wednesday, his office said.

UMNO has been in turmoil since its poor showing in March elections, which was seen as heightening political risk and spooked investors in the Southeast Asian country.

Mahathir's bombshell resignation on Monday from the party he led for 22 years came with a call for other UMNO members to quit with him.

A meeting of lawmakers on Tuesday ignored the call and rallied behind Abdullah.

Mahathir said he was resigning in a bid to force Abdullah out, but the prime minister said he would not quit.

Analysts said the most likely outcome of Wednesday night's meeting was a reaffirmation by UMNO leaders of their support for the prime minister.

"At this point, there are so many factions and alliances within the leadership. But he will probably get the support of the majority within the Supreme Council," said Lee Hock Guan, senior fellow with Institute of South East Asian Studies in Singapore.

Mahathir's defection from UMNO came three days after Abdullah ordered the attorney-general to investigate the former premier and five others on possible offences over the appointment of judges while he was in power.

It added to concerns about the continued hold on power of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, of which UMNO is the dominant partner. An emboldened opposition, headed by Mahathir arch-foe Anwar Ibrahim, is seeking to wrest power by wooing BN defectors.

Anwar, a former deputy premier, said Mahathir's resignation was indicative of UMNO's worsening crisis.

"The internal problems of UMNO are clearly deteriorating beyond any hope of recovery," he said, and called on Malaysians to join his group.

UMNO, backbone of the 14-party BN that has ruled since independence from Britain in 1957, holds 79 of its 140 seats.

The opposition is a loose alliance of Islamists, a Chinese-based party and the multiracial PKR, and needs to gain just 30 seats to win a simple majority and form the government. (TVNZ, New Zealand)

Pak Lah's Too Little Too Late Religious Tolerance Spin

The Government has met various religious groups to discuss and understand their needs.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the meetings were held because religion continued to be a sensitive issue among Malaysians.

“Although Islam is the official faith, the Federal Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion.

“Realising that religion remains a sensitive issue, which needs to be treated with patience and tolerance among the different ethnic groups, the Government, through the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry has held several meetings,” he said Sunday in his Wesak Day message here.

Abdullah said the meetings would also help foster a closer relationship and improve understanding among the different races and religious groups in the country.

“I hope that with this approach, we will be able to resolve any issue or problem peacefully and in the spirit of friendship. I believe there won’t be any problem that we cannot resolve if we practise moderation, tolerance and are respectful of each other.”

Abdullah said all religions have inherent universal values.

“Therefore, I ask all Malaysians, regardless of religion, to always carry out good work and abstain from doing anything that may destroy us, our family and society,” he said.

Malaysia, he added, was lucky in that its people had been able to live peacefully thus far. “This achievement should not be belittled when we reflect on the suffering and conflict faced by some countries because of religious or ethnic tensions. This success is the result of our efforts and the unity of our people, in their rejection of extremism,” he said.

“I also take this opportunity to wish Happy Wesak Day to all Buddhists. I hope the understanding and unity prevailing among us can be continuously enhanced so that our country will progress and remain peaceful.” (The Star)

***** When he had the chance to bridge the divide between Muslims and the others and promote meaningful dialogue between the disparate religious groups, the PM shamelessly pandered to the demands of ultra-religious zealots in his party.

He didn't lift a finger to resolve any of the religious issues which cropped up during his first term of office, ignored the advice of the voices of reason, including the Mufti of Perlis and frequently dismissed them with the stock phrase that 'religion is a sensitive issue'. As if we didn't know that.

Now after getting hammered in the general elections he belatedly wishes to put the government in a good light by saying that the kerajaan 'has met various religious groups to discuss and understand their needs'! Those who once counted themselves as his fervent supporters have over the past few years become so disappointed and disillusioned that they have shifted their hopes and loyalty to others like Pakatan Rakyat who will do something concrete about their doubts, worries and misgivings. As for Pak Lah's spin, too little too late old chap.

The Winds Of Change

Could the opposition take power after 51 years?
As Malaysia's new parliament opened this week, a mood of change was in the air not felt since the country's independence from Britain in 1957. The governing coalition, led since then by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), is panicking after suffering its poorest-ever showing in the general election held in March.

The knives are out for Abdullah Badawi, the prime minister. The opposition, newly assertive and, so far, united behind its leader, Anwar Ibrahim, claims that at least 30 MPs from the ruling coalition are preparing to defect, which would be enough for it to take power. A change of government in Malaysia—a fanciful notion until recently—now seems a real possibility.

To fend off calls for his resignation Mr Badawi has said that after UMNO's annual conference, which has been postponed until December, he will discuss handing the party leadership (and thus the prime ministership) to his deputy, Najib Razak. Not soon enough, say his internal critics, including Mahathir Mohamad, the prime minister's embittered predecessor, and Razaleigh Hamzah, a former finance minister and rival to Dr Mahathir, who intends to run for the leadership. Mr Badawi has pleaded with local party branches to stop calling emergency meetings to discuss the poor election result and question his leadership, so far to no avail.

In a bid to salvage his reputation, Mr Badawi has belatedly started keeping the bold promises of reform that he made on coming to office in 2003. Foremost among these was curbing corruption within the government. But the public thinks it has actually worsened under his administration. Last year, grave allegations against the then head of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) and the national police chief were dismissed by the attorney-general's office for “lack of evidence”. The prime minister announced this month that the ACA, widely seen as subservient to the politicians it is supposed to supervise, would be replaced by a more independent body. Opposition leaders are pressing him to create an independent police-complaints body, a promise Mr Badawi had broken after meeting stiff resistance from police chiefs.

Another of Mr Badawi's pledges, unkept until now, was to reform the country's weak and mistrusted judiciary. The justice system was wrecked by Dr Mahathir in 1988, after the courts ordered UMNO's dissolution. Dr Mahathir had the constitution changed to strip the courts of their independence from government. He also sacked the head of the Supreme Court and five other senior judges. Last year the opposition highlighted the need for judicial reforms by releasing a video-clip of a top lawyer apparently boasting of his ability to fix judicial appointments.

In his cabinet shuffle after the election Mr Badawi appointed a prominent legal reformer, Zaid Ibrahim, to shake up the justice system. Last month the prime minister announced that the changes would include a new, independent commission to recommend candidates for the judiciary. The six judges sacked in 1988 will be given compensation but no apology. Other better-late-than-never measures from Mr Badawi include loosening the state's tight grip on the press. Mr Anwar's People's Justice Party is to be allowed to publish its own newspaper, a right it has been seeking for ten years. The government has also revoked its ban on Makkal Osai, a paper read by the country's ethnic-Indian minority, which had given ample coverage to the opposition's election campaign and to Hindraf, a radical protest group campaigning for the Indian minority's rights, which the government has accused of terrorist links.

The government is also reconsidering some of its lavish public-works projects, which have a tendency to be awarded to UMNO-friendly firms. A high-speed “bullet” train link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, costing 10 billion Malaysian ringgit ($3.2 billion), was the first to come under review.

Welcome as they are, these moves seem unlikely to save Mr Badawi. Mr Anwar crows that his opposition coalition, the People's Alliance, will be in government by September. He says he is simply waiting until he has enough potential defections from the government benches to secure a comfortable majority before making his move. There have been a few defections at state level but, so far, no MPs have jumped. Mr Anwar has been courting support in the Malaysian part of Borneo, hoping that some of the gaggle of pro-government parties there—on which the ruling coalition now depends for its majority—might defect en masse.

Mr Anwar has been prime minister in waiting before. He was deputy to Dr Mahathir until 1998 but the two men fell out and the then prime minister had him jailed on dubious charges. A ban on Mr Anwar's taking political office expired last month. Rebranded as an anti-UMNO reformer, he can now stand for parliament again. His chances of success in his second shot at power hinge not just on whether he can attract enough government MPs—ideally principled ones, not just those available to the highest bidder—but on whether his opposition coalition, an uneasy mix of secularists, Islamists and ethnic-Chinese activists can hold together. (The Economist)

BN Mulls Cooperation With Pakatan Rakyat

Malaysia's ruling coalition may open "a new era'' of cooperation with the opposition in administrative matters, the prime minister said Tuesday, signaling a policy shift after recent elections nearly leveled the balance of power.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front coalition has long shunned any cooperation with its rivals, but it has been forced to consider how to deal with a three-party opposition alliance that won control of five states in March general elections.

Abdullah indicated he was surprised that the opposition handed a key administrative post last week to a well-known National Front member.

"It's just not been the practice,'' Abdullah told reporters. "Normally we keep to what we want to do, and the opposition parties also keep to what they want to do.''

National Front officials have debated whether Lee Kah Choon of the coalition's Gerakan party should be kicked out after he accepted an offer last week to head two opposition-run development and investment organizations in the industrial hub of Penang state.

Abdullah said he was not in favor of punishing Lee, stressing that "if there is no clash in policies, then perhaps it opens the way to cooperate.''

"We can always create a new era, but as far as I'm concerned, this is a matter for the parties to decide whether they want it or not,'' Abdullah said.

Lee resigned as Gerakan's deputy secretary general last month after the party lost control of Penang for the first time in nearly 30 years. He remains an ordinary member, though there has been speculation that he might cross over to the opposition Democratic Action Party.

Opposition leader Lim Guan Eng, the new chief minister of Penang, has said Lee's appointment is part of the opposition's plan to "chart a new course, a new political paradigm'' that emphasizes fairness to all sides.

The National Front held on to power in last month's elections, but lost its traditional two-thirds majority in Parliament and conceded five of Malaysia's 13 states to the opposition.

Abdullah has been trying to keep the coalition's 14 parties united amid widespread rumors that dozens of government lawmakers plan to defect to the opposition. He is also fending off demands by some coalition members for his resignation.

***** The new cooperation policy is a welcome one and the nation will benefit from the resultant goodwill. Although BN must have been taken aback by the novel offer, the PM has shown remarkable good sense and pragmatism in not condemning the appointment, questioning the opposition's motives or calling for disciplinary action against Mr Lee. Keep it up Pak Lah.

Another flip flop?: Kah Choon Cannot Go Against BN Spirit, Says Abdullah