Dr M hit the one Million jackpot...

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hit the 1 million mark today after being a blogger slightly less than a month. That comes to an average of more than 33,333 hits per day. Wow! That's the magic number which most bloggers dream of achieving.

Anyway, congratulations Tun!

Here's an excerpt from his latest entry on, what else, if it is not on being a member of, "THE MILLIONAIRE CLUB". Here's what theTun said:

Touching one million hits among bloggers seem to be something to be celebrated.

I was told that most bloggers will congratulate each other when one of them hits the million mark, and call the one millionaire.

Some bloggers have described my achieving the million mark within a month of my first posting as something phenomenal; one even suggested that it may be a world record of sorts. I do not know whether it is.

To me, what is more important is that I have managed to generate enough interest to get that kind of traffic in my blog.

It is quite an experience to be a blogger even though I am only a month-old.

Much as I saw the importance of cyberspace during my tenure as Prime Minister and hence my commitment to the setting up of Cyberjaya and pursuing the Multi-media Super Corridor (MSC), I did not envisage that I would one day be a blogger.

I note that now the government has recognised the importance of the blogs. It is proposing to have its own blog. But more importantly the mainstream media are now quoting from the blog and even dare to write on formerly forbidden subjects.

This is tobe expected as many people no longer read the mainstream papers or watch television.

The NST circulation has been reduced to an average of 135,000 daily including free and discounted copies for hotels, schools and airlines.Unless there is instruction to spin news from certain quarters, the mainstream media might become irrelevant. Read more here .

Dr M flies back to rousing welcome

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad came back to a rousing and emotional welcome when he arrived here from Tokyo yesterday.

Shouts of Hidup Tun (long live Tun) reverberated as the former Prime Minister addressed and thanked the crowd with a loud speaker from the sunroof of a four-wheel-drive vehicle after he touched down at the Subang airport about 6pm.

Dr Mahathir, who announced he was quitting Umno last Monday, had led the party for more than two decades. He was accompanied by his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.

He was in Tokyo for an international conference. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi. who was also there, returned home last night. (read here)

“Thank you. If I’m not wrong, when I was an Umno member before, the welcome that I received was no different than no, " he said to resounding cheers. Read more from the Star.







Pictures: Courtesy of jinggo

Dr M''s response to Musa's "Thorn in the Flesh"

Thursday, May 22, 2008

"Duri dalam daging"

Saya telah ikuti laporan berkenaan keputusan saya keluar dari UMNO yang disiarkan RTM 1, 8 malam, 19 hb Mei. Komen oleh dua pemimpin UMNO amat menggelikan hati saya.

Tun Musa Hitam dakwa saya adalah ‘duri dalam daging yang sekarang sudah dikeluarkan.’

Tun, apakah Tun lupa Tun jadi duri dalam daging UMNO tahun 1986 - 87 dahulu? Semasa Tun jadi Timbalan Perdana Menteri [di lantik oleh saya]. Tun telah letak jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Timbalan Presiden UMNO kerana hendak saya berhenti daripada jadi Perdana Menteri dan diganti oleh Tun. Atas rayuan ahli Majlis Tertinggi, Tun kembali sebagai Timbalan Presiden UMNO. Rupa-rupanya Tun masih punyai niat untuk jatuhkan saya.

Oleh itu Tun menghasut Tengku Razaleigh yang menjadi musuh ketat Tun supaya lawan saya. Demikianlah bencinya Tun kepada saya sehingga sanggup terima musuh ketat Tun bertanding Presiden, dan Tun jadi Timbalannya; Tun sebelum itu rayu supaya saya sokong Tun untuk rebut jawatan Timbalan Presiden dalam pertandingan lawan Tengku Razaleigh.

Akhirnya pecahlah UMNO dan muncullah parti serpihan Semangat 46. Tetapi dengan bijaknya Tun tidak menyertainya. Tun selamat dan dilantik oleh saya sebagai perutusan bertaraf Menteri ke Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu. Tengku Razaleigh terkeluar daripada UMNO Baru dan menjadi mangsa perancangan Tun. Syabas Tun. Saya tak tahu sekarang Tun ahli UMNO atau tidak.

Satu lagi pemimpin UMNO ialah Shahrir Samad yang lupa bagaimana dia keluar UMNO, jadi calon bebas dan lawan dengan UMNO, dalam Pilihanraya Kecil dengan simbol kunci.

Siapakah kamu yang nak kritik tindakan saya? Jika tidak kerana kakak Tun Musa sebagai Ketua Wanita Johor Bahru datang pagi-pagi ke rumah saya untuk merayu supaya Dato dibenar kembali ke pangkuan UMNO, Dato akan jadi duri dalam daging UMNO lebih lama. Walaupun Dato maki hamun saya semasa pilihanraya kecil saya bersetuju Dato masuk balik UMNO.

Saya ucap tahniah kerana Dato dapat sekali lagi jadi Menteri. Jagalah harga barang baik-baik. Tak usahlah komen tentang diri saya.

Tepuk dulang paku serpih.
Katakan orang awak yang lebih.

English text: Mahathir fires back at Musa and Shahrir here.

We hope Dr M will return to Umno...one day

The Umno Supreme Council (MT) which held a special meeting Wednesday night expressed the hope that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir would return to the party one day.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak said the meeting took note that Dr Mahathir had written an official letter to leave the party.

Howeve he said that he was prepared to meet the former Prime Minister anytime.

"But we know his stand and his position. So we leave it at that for the time being," he told reporters after the three-hour meeting that was chaired by Party President Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi.

Dr Mahathir had announced on Monday that he was quitting Umno because he had lost confidence in the leadership of Abdullah as Prime Minister, Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman.

Here's the Bernama story:

Najib, who is also Umno deputy president, said the meeting also discussed the framework of a plan to move the party forward and regain the confidence of its members and Malaysians.

Apart from these, Najib said the MT also decided to continue supporting Abdullah to lead the party to ensure it received continued support from members.

Asked whether other members had followed Dr Mahathir in quitting Umno,Najib said so far no other letters to the effect had been received. Asked whether the leadership transition plan between Abdullah and him was discussed, Najib said," it was not discussed, that's between me and the Prime Minister."

He said the meeting also did not discuss the stand of the Member of Parliament for Jerlun, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir on the same issue (his father Dr Mahathir's uitting), which was said to have been disrespectful of the Prime Minister, and that it would left to Umno Youth to decide.

"The matter was not discussed today. We will be guided by Exco Pemuda (Umno Youth's executive committee)," said Najib.

He added that the MT believed Umno members would remain loyal to the party and should any problem arise, it would be resolved within Umno.-- BERNAMA

Mokhzani quits Umno

Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir has quit the party following the footstep of his father, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir who did so on Monday.

Dr Mahathir quit Umno two days ago and called other members to follow suit to show their vote of no confidence in party President Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi’s leadership.

Mokhzani said he hoped Abdullah would step down as the party president before more Umno members leave the party in protest.

Mokhzani, a member of the Sungai Layar Hujung Umno branch for 22 years, submitted his letter of resignation to the Merbok division on Tuesday.

Asked if he would rejoin Umno if Abdullah steps down, Mokhzani said “Insya Allah (God willing)”.

“For the time being I prefer to be with the larger group of Malaysians who are not aligned to any political parties,” he said.

Yesterday his younger brother, Umno Youth exco member and Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz, announced that he will not quit the party.

He however called on Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign.

The Star has the story here.

I'm no hero, says PAS man who dared Dr M

Encik Ismail Wan Teh (pic right), the 42-year Jerlun Pas division deputy chairman, has been dubbed a hero.

The reason: He dared put a challenge to the former Prime Minister to take the lead in quitting Umno after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had asked members to leave the party temporarily in protest against Umno President Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

But Ismail said he is no hero and he never intended to challenge or dare Dr Mahathir to make the first move.

He has been following Dr Mahathir's statements in the newspaper, and thought many people expected Dr Mahathir to make this move. It was a matter of time he did, he said.

"I am no hero," he said

On Dr Mahathir's announcement (leaving Umno), he said it showed him as a man of his word. --- (Read here.)

Pic: courtesy of NotaRazi

Mukhriz not quitting

Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir aint quitting. He is staying on in Umno.

Many have expected the Umno Youth executive council member to follow the footstep of his father, former Prime MinisterTun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who resigned from the party yesterday, citing dissatisfaction over the current leadership.

But his decision to stay on should not come as a surprise since Mukhriz, who is the MP for Jerlun, is going for the post of Umno Youth chief in December.

Read the full Star report:

Mukhriz not quitting, urges PM to step down (updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said he is not resigning from Umno, but reiterated his call for Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi to step down as prime minister and party president.

The Jerlun MP, who is expected to contest for the post of Umno Youth chief in December, had previously called for Abdullah to step down after the March 8 polls that saw the Barisan Nasional coalition losing its two-thirds majority in Parliament.

On Monday, Mukhriz's father, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, resigned from the party, citing his dissatisfaction over the current leadership.

He urged other Umno members to also leave until there was a change in party leadership. Father and son have both attributed -- directly in the case of the former -- Barisan's disappointing performance in the 12th general election to Abdullah.

After the polls, Mukhriz had written a letter to Abdullah urging him to take responsibility for the dismal results, but later denied that he had asked the Prime Minister to quit.

In April, Mukhriz said that a party leadership change should occur by the end of the year so that a tense contest can be avoided during the Umno annual assembly in December.

He said any contest during party polls could further fracture the party, and urged Abdullah to hand over the reins to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

On Monday, former premier Dr Mahathir announced that he would be quitting the party, much to the surprise of party members nationwide.

Go here for Mukhriz's media statement

What Pak Lah and Umno leaders say...

Abdullah shocked but will not step down under pressure...

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he will not bow to pressure from former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to resign as prime minister and Umno president.

He said he was “shocked and surprised” over Dr Mahathir’s sudden decision to quit Umno, calling the move a drastic action.

He also said the resignation and call to other members to quit would not shatter the party as Umno had over three million members.

“Maybe some will leave but I believe most of them still love Umno. I don’t know what Umno members are going to do but I would like to believe that the members will not leave,” he said.

He urged Umno members to be taat setia (loyal) to the party and stay strong to continue the party’s struggle just like when it was first founded, adding that Umno’s existence was due to member loyalty.

“I, as an Umno member, from the beginning until now, have never left the party and I will continue to fight for the party.

“Umno has contributed much to the country and the people of all races, and we want Umno to continue the struggle,” he said after meeting party vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam here yesterday.

Abdullah hoped that Umno members would think carefully before making any decision.
He believed that the majority of party members would stay true to Umno. More here

Najib: I’m willing to meet Dr M

SHARM EL-SHEIKH (Egypt): Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is willing to talk to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over his sudden resignation from the party.

Expressing shock and sadness over the former Prime Minister's announcement, Najib said he had met Dr Mahathir previously and that he was prepared to meet him again to discuss the decision.

Reading from a prepared statement, Najib said that Dr Mahathir was a respected leader and his contributions to the party and nation were invaluable.

Najib also said that he had contacted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on the matter soon after news of the decision reached him here.

Asked if Dr Mahathir’sdecision would prompt other Umno leaders to follow suit, Najib replied: “Wallah hu’alam (Only God knows). I don’t know.” More here...

Ku Li: I’ll stay to fight Abdullah

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah says he will remain in Umno to challenge Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the party presidency and also to clean up the party.

The Gua Musang MP also said he would never form a pact with the Opposition to set up a new government even if Umno was battered by internal conflict.

“I have my own party. Why must I quit the party? I will remain in the party to challenge the president (Abdullah) and will fight to clean up the party,” he said. Continue here.

Mahathir’s decision a blessing, says Musa

Tun Musa Hitam says Dr Mahathir's decision to quit Umno is upsetting but it may actually be a blessing in disguise because a "thorn in the flesh" has been removed from the party. Continue here.

Read also Umno leaders shocked at move here.

Dr Mahathir quits Umno

Dr M's statement: Pengumuman Keluar Dari Umno here

Update: 5.30pm

Veteran Umno leader Tan Sri Sanusi has quit the party. (The star reports, here)

Earlier story:

ALOR STAR, Mon: After goading Umno members today to temporarily resign from Umno as a sign of protest against the party president, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad took up a “dare” to take the lead by resigning from the party he had been a
founding member of since 1946.

However, he implored Umno members taking up his challenge not to join any other party and remain independent, at least until the Umno leadership was determined (after the December party elections).

He said he will only rejoin the party when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi steps down as Umno president.

Dr Mahathir was answering questions from the floor after giving a talk at a forum entitled 'Malays’ Future after the 12th General Election' at the Star City Hotel in Alor Star when a member of the audience asked him if he would take the lead in quitting Umno.

“Wah, saya di cabar ni…(I have been dared),” he quipped but in a serious tone, he said:

“Yes, I will leave Umno….until the party leadership is determined. Other Umno members should follow me.”

Loud cheers immediately met his declaration. It is not immediately clear if his son, Datuk Mukhriz, also the MP for Jerlun and an Umno Youth Exco member, would follow suit.

The former Prime Minister's announcement also caught his aides by surprise. Dr Mahathir explained that this was not the first time he was out of Umno.

“Between 1969 and 1970, I was expelled from Umno but later, when many Malays and Umno members still supported me, I re-entered Umno. There was no problem. Just don’t join other parties.” --- Continue with the NST report here.

Rea also rocky's Dr M Quits here)

(According to blogger A voice Dr Mahathir made the annoucement at 12:35 today. Sources quoted said that Dr Mahathir repeated his speech at the Johor MyKMU event in Johor Baru, which was spinned by Malaysia Insider as playing the racial card. Dr Mahathir reiterated his call for Pak Lah to quit with a strong message, "Pak Lah harus di singkirkan segera!". According to the blogger, "a Dr Mahathir outside of UMNO could be more vocal and deadly." The question now is: will the disillusioned grassroots unhappy with the party leadership follow suit? What will be the implications of Dr M's resignation on the party as a whole? Will his move hasten Abdullah's departure?)

Dr M: Charge me & I'll "explain" many things that the judges did...

... including lobbying.

The former Prime Minister was referring to the report of the Royal Commission Inquiry on the Lingam video clip which has recommended that he be investigated under various laws for his role in appointment of judges. (Read here)

The government yesterday released the report of the Commission that found evidence of an "insidious" conspiracy to influence the appointment of judges and had Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad listed along with other top figures as being involved.

Following the release of the report, the cabinet agreed that the A-G's Chambers investigate the allegations against those identified in the report, including Dr Mahathir.

Here's the full report from Bernama:

I'm Prepared To Be Investigated And Charged In Court, Says Dr M

JOHOR BAHARU, May 17 (Bernama) -- Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Saturday he is prepared to be investigated and charged in court with regard to findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Datuk V.K. Lingam video clip episode.

"By charging me in court, I will have the opportunity to explain many things that the judges did, including lobbying," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the post-election Umno forum organised by the Johor Umno Grassroots Members Action Front Federation and MykmuJohor.com.

Dr Mahathir hoped that investigations on him would not be stopped on grounds that there was no case.

In that case, I will have no opportunity to explain what had happened, but instead if I was charged, then I can explain what I had done and what others did including the judges with regard to lobbying.

"I want to tell about the judges who had come to me to lobby. If lobbying is wrong, then these judges should be probed," he said when asked by reporters on the cabinet's directive to the Attorney-General to initiate immediate investigations into allegations on individuals named in the inquiry report.

Individuals named in the report are senior lawyer Lingam, former deputy minister in the prime minister's department Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, businessman Tan Sri Vincent Tan, two former chief judges Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin and Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir said he did not expect the judges who were lobbying had committed any wrongdoing as throughout his tenure as prime minister many people had approached him to lobby for positions whether for a minister's post, deputy minister and other government positions.

He said the decisions he made on the appointments, including that of judges, were based on his own assessment.

"My decision is based on my assessment. I don't care who lobbied or who spoke to me. If I decide that the individual concerned should be appointed, then I will appoint. If a person should not be appointed, eventhough he was recommended by the judge, I will not appoint.

"I am not a postman, when the chief judge recommends, I straight away approve and see the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the King endorses. If that is the case, it can be said the appointment of the chief judge is decided by the outgoing chief judge.

"Then, I don't have any role at all. I don't want to be a postman," he said.

Asked on the recommendation by the royal commission that Vincent Tan and Tengku Adnan be investigated, Dr Mahathir said he did not know about their roles as they had never lobbied with him.

"Anybody can give their views on the appointment of anyone, the prime minister or future deputy prime minister," he said, adding that the present system of appointing judges was good.

"What makes the system to be flawed is the human element," he added.

About 2,000 people attended the forum including Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, former Kedah Menteri Besar Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, former NST Group editor-in-chief Datuk A.Kadir Jasin and former Parit Sulong MP Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad.

-- BERNAMA

Commission: Act against Dr M, five otherss

Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said the Cabinet has agreed that the contents of the Royal Commission of Inquiry report into the Datuk V.K. Lingam clip be made public and copies made available for sale.

The Cabinet made this decision in its meeting today.

The Cabinet also agreed that the Attorney-General's Chambers investigate the allegations in the report against former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and five others - lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam, business tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, former Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor, retired Chief Justice Tun Eusoff Chin, former Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim. (Read here)

The Commission has recommended that Dr Mahathir be investigated under various laws for his role in appointment of judges. (Read here.)

Related topics read here and here.

Dr M: I met Najib after PM said he won’t stop meeting

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he met Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak after the Prime Minister said he would not stop the meeting.

However, he did not disclose what they discussed.

The meeting, which lasted about two hours, is learnt to have taken place last Sunday evening at Najib's official residence Sri Satria in Putrajaya.

Last Wednesday, Mahathir claimed he tried to set up a meeting with Najib immediately after the general election to discuss current affairs - a move that purportedly did not go well with Abdullah.

However, the next day Abdullah said he had not prevented Najib from meeting Dr Mahathir saying : “Tak ada halang, tak ada .”

“After Pak Lah said that, we met. He said he wanted to meet so I met him, lah,” Dr Mahathir told reporters yesterday after launching the book Kismet, a biography on the life, contributions and sacrifices of the late Sher Mohamed Allah Baksh.

On the claim by Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan that he had been offered enough money for three generations to join PKR, Dr Mahathir said:

“It’s all about money today. If there’s money, they can jump into any boat.

“All of them dare not speak out because of money. They want positions.”

On DAP chairman Karpal Singh not budging from his position on the Sultan of Perak ordering the reinstatement of the state religious head who had been removed by the Mentri Besar, he said

“That’s what happens when the Government is weak. The people don’t respect you anymore.”

Source: The Star

Dr Mahathir the blogger

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has his own blog simply named “Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” at www.chedet.com

“This site is dedicated to publishing my writings as and when I am able to pen my thoughts and opinion,” he says.

His first posting today is on The Appointment of Judges in which he tackles the issue of judicial reform, noting that there have been no details on how the recently announced Judicial Appointments Commission will work.

He also notes that the Constitution would have to be amended to validate any changes in how judges are currently appointed.

The Star has the story here .

Also read:

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, statesman and blogger

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, The statesman blogger has finally arrived!

Dr Mahathir: I'm Not Anti-Western

Here's an excerpt of the Bernama report on former Prime Minster Dr Mahathir Mohamad's interview in "Hard Talk" aired by BBC in London, Monday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I am not anti-western, I'm against the bad things done by the western countries."

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that he is not anti-Western but will continue to speak up about their wrongdoings against other people.

"I am not anti-western, I'm against the bad things done by the western countries."

He said the Westerners, especially the British, had given the Malays many negative labels like lazy and incompetent, and expected them to like it.

He stressed that therefore, the Western people should also be ready to hear what others think of them.

"The British used to call us lazy Malays, incompetent Malays, untrustworthy Malays. We couldn't say a thing about you, so when I was in a position to say what I think about you, and then said it, you don't like it. When you say it to us, you expect us to like it, we don't like it but we don't have a way for our voice to be heard."

He admitted saying that Anglo-Saxon Europeans were proponents of war, slavery and the holocaust.

"Which is true... I am stating a fact. This is their character and I will continue to say so," he said.

On democracy, Dr Mahathir:

"It is not necessary that the system will work for everybody, but if they have a bad leader, even a democratic system will fail.

"You must remember that it is a democratic country that dropped the atomic bombs killing more than 200,000 people."

He said if one were to look at the history of the West, they would find that the Westerners normally came up with all kinds of ideologies.

"They used it for some time and then they found it to be defective. They dump it and they start on another.

"One day, they are going to forget about democracy because in some countries, democracy usually ends up with anarchy, and there is practically no government."

Dr Mahathir said democracy was not a system that could fit everybody.

"You must have a certain understanding of the limitation of democracy in order for it to work."

Asked to comment on the recent general election result where the ruling party lost five wealthy states to the opposition coalition allegedly due to the racial division pursued by him during his tenure.

"I know that was a wishful thinking on the part of foreign critics but the fact is that in this election result, it is due to the dissatisfaction on the part of the ruling party's supporters with the present decisions."

On the New Economic Policy which was said to be the cause of the loss, he said that it was a necessary step to correct the imbalances that existed since the British days.

On questions regarding Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Mahathir said if Anwar were to become the new Prime Minister, he was welcomed to conduct a full and thorough inquiry on his (Dr Mahathir's) so-called misdeeds.

"Well, he is welcomed to do so, but I hope that he finds people who are neutral, who are impartial, probably foreigners because I don't trust people they are putting in charge of the people they don't like."

Dr Mahathir was also asked whether he regretted what he did to Anwar.

"Why should I regret, he was arrested under the laws of the country, he was tried and sentenced by the court, if he was not wrong, I don't think no matter what you think about the our judiciary, I don't think he would have been sentenced to prison."

On the judicial system in Malaysia, Dr Mahathir vehemently denied that he appointed judges in the Supreme Court and stressed that he always had faith in the system.

"I didn't appoint the judges, the judges were recommended by the chief justice, and my duty is to check whether they had any record or not, and after that it was presented to the King who then appoint the judges."

On the move by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to make ex-gratia payments to judges removed during his time, he said:

"It's a political move, something a man who is very unpopular now wanting to show that he has to do something right."

Dr Mahathir also accused Abdullah of making use of the system in the worst ways.

"Nobody can say anything against him, he has newspapers who duly report about him and how great he is, and he was misled by his own supporters into believing that he would win big in the recent election."

Asked why he chose Abdullah as his predecessor, Dr Mahathir said:

"These people, they are very smart in hiding their true character, he was known as Mr Clean and I thought I should appoint a clean person to succeed me... although he was not the one with the highest votes (as vice president) in the party but I thought that he was older and I appointed him thinking that he is not going to do anything very wrong. "

He was also asked why he could not keep quiet after he retired.

"Why should I, they are doing something very bad to my country and I should not let it happen.

"I would be irresponsible if I do that."

Go to bigdog's Tun Mahathir on Hard Talk.

(I sat through the programme. Say what you like and all you want about Dr M, but he was certainly his witty self. I don't believe any of the current cabinet members could perform better, let alone you-know-who.)

Najib: I'm Not A Coward

"It is not a question of being 'Mr Yes Man' or being not brave enough or afraid because I hold to the principle that the best way is to have an organised transfer of power, in a respectable way."

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Monday brushed aside a claim by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that he was a coward for failing to speak up about the real reasons behind the Barisan Nasional's dismal performance in the recent general election, according to Bernama.

"I'm not a coward," the Umno deputy president said when asked to comment on Dr Mahathir's claim made in Manchester, England, on Saturday after the latter had given a talk at the University of Manchester.

Dr Mahathir had said that he had second thoughts about Najib becoming the prime minister because the former prime minister claimed that Najib was not "brave enough" to directly say anything that was not liked by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Najib said: "It is not a question of being 'Mr Yes Man' or being not brave enough or afraid because I hold to the principle that the best way is to have an organised transfer of power, in a respectable way. That would be meaningful and would determine that the party's interests are not undermined," he told reporters.

The deputy prime minister said Umno's history would show that the transfer of power from the first prime minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, to Tun Abdul Razak Hussein proceeded smoothly.

"The late Tun Hussein Onn handed over the office of prime minister to Tun Dr Mahathir also in a proper way, with tradition dictating the best way practised in the party.

"In my opinion, that's the best way and method for us to execute a change in the country's leadership, as was stated by the prime minister and party president," he said.

He said the transfer of power should be given the chance to take place in a respectable way as all decisions in the short term would have an impact on Umno.

"If we do anything at this time, when Umno and BN are not as strong as they were prior to the general election, we will need time to rehabilitate Umno," he said.

He said disputes and friction would definitely take place and result in two or three factions in the party, which would weaken Umno and the BN.

"We cannot afford to allow such a situation to take place in the party, which can cause a major problem for the government and country," he said.

Najib, who refuted claims that there were cracks in Umno, did not rule out the possibility that the party would be split if there was a tussle for power and the leadership.

"I am not saying that there is a split but if there is a leadership crisis, there may be a repeat of the 1987 and the (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim crises. The question is whether the BN and Umno can afford to undergo such a scenario again," he said.

Source: Bernama

(Am sorry to say this Datuk Seri: Rightly or wrongly, that seems to be the general public perception of you. A person who is playing it safe, is non-committal, waiting for his time and simply doesn't want to rock the boat.)

We didn't seek to declare Umno unlawful

The so- called "Umno 11" group Saturday claimed that it did not seek to have Umno declared unlawful in 1988 as it had been so accused by certain quarters.

Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman, who claimed to represent the group, said all 11 of them only sought to have the party conduct its elections again because several delegates to the April 1987 general assembly came from unregistered branches of the party.

He spoke at a news conference to clarify a newspaper report that the group's claim was granted by then High Court judge Datuk Harun Hashim and the outcome was the declaration of Umno as unlawful because it had unregistered branches.

Abdul Rahim said the group took the matter to court because its appeal within Umno following the party elections was not entertained, according to a report by Bernama.

"That statement is wrong because the fact is that it was a request by the Umno group including myself that we, Umno members, seek a court declaration that the general assembly was null and void. There was nothing in our petition to have Umno declared unlawful or anything associated with banning Umno.

"For 20 years or two decades, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Umno secretary-general then Tan Sri Sanusi Junid and others had accused us Umno 11 as those responsible for having Umno declared unlawful," he said.

He wanted to clarify the matter now because they had not been able to get the chance to refute the accusations.

(Background: The group had filed the petition to have the results of the 1987 Umno elections - in which Dr Mahathir won the Umno presidency against his challenger, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah - declared null and void after learning that several unregistered branches with illegal members had attended the general assembly and voted as delegates.)

Please step down Sir...pleads Mukhriz

Here's the much-talked-about letter Datuk Muhkriz Mahathir sent to Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Badaw asking him to step down.

Muhkriz is, of course, the son of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who himself has asked Abdullah to do so.

It's a letter which says, rocky , Pak Lah doesnt want us to read. Singapore's mypaper has published Rocky's piece today asking Pak Lah to sack himself.

I am reproducing the letter which Rocky reproduced in his blog.

Here it is.

12th March 2008

Dato' Seri,

Let me take this opportunity to thank you and the party's leadership for the faith in me and the chance to contest in Jerlun as a Barisan Nasional candidate. With the blessing and hard work of the party's leadership and machinery as well as the people of Jerlun, I have won the elections and am now a new Member of Parliament.

However, sadly enough, my victory is rendered meaningless in view of the defeat that Umno and the Kedah BN suffered in the hands of the opposition. Apart form Kedah, four other states as well as the Federal Territories also received similar humiliation in defeat.

In fact your own state of Penang was wrested by the DAP from the BN. Kelantan is again under Pas rules. In other states, the BN also suffered a similar humiliation when the level of BN support by the people has tremendously reduced. This, Datuk Seri, has never happened in the history of BN rule.

The sole intention of my letter to you is meant to save UMNO and BN from being rejected further by the people and from being no longer relevant to our religion, race and nation.

Dato' Seri, the people are unhappy and the message from them is very clear, and that is they have rejected you as the nation's chief executive.

Contrary to your claim that you still have the support of Umno and other component parties, the reality is that even our own party members had reneged in their voting pattern by supporting the Opposition and inflicting the BN its defeat.

Dato' Seri, when the people held street demonstrations you openly dared them to resort to the ballot boxes to demonstrate.

They took your challenge by coming out, especially tho people in the Peninsular, and they demonstrated their feelings by voting us out at the BN at State and Parliament
levels.

It is therefore clear that your leadership and your handling of the issues faced by the people and the nation are no longer accepted. Let's not deny the truth just for the sake of keeping your seat as Prime Minister.

For the love of this country and the people, I beg that you take responsibility for the defeat. We can save UMNO, the BN and the nation only if you relinquish your positions as Prime Minister and the President of UMNO.

Dato' Seri, I hope you will understand that I make this plea with the intention of salvaging a very dire situation. A move has been made to woo the BN representatives to join the Opposition. The enemy needs just 35 seats more to topple the government of your leadership.

If you do not resign in the near future, I fear that the situation will become untenable and that the Malay support for Umno and BN will be a thing of the past.

This plea I make without malice, and I am aware that your reaction and that of other UMNO members could very well be hostile.

But come what may, I am prepared, for the sake of the Malays and UMNO, to face the consequences of my action. With all humility, I leave my fate to Allah SWT.

Dato' Seri, I am sure that you will do the right thing for the sake of the people and the nation. May Allah SWT bless you for the sacrifice you make by
stepping down.

Wasallam

Yours Sincerely
Mukhriz Mahathir

Jerlun Member Parlament

You're one brave man, Mukhriz, willing to put your head on the chopping block. Am sure there are many in UMNO who share your view, but where are they? Too scared to come forward and speak up?

Read Mukhriz's Letter To Pak Lah
Rock'sbru The letter Pak Lah doesnt want us to read
Bigdog's Mukhriz hantar surat minta PM Abdullah letak jawatan
Reuters Mahathir's son asks Malaysian PM to resign

Malaysia needs a strong Opposition - Dr M

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave an inteview to Malaysiakini. In the first of a two-part interview with journalist Li Tsin Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Malaysia needs a strong Opposition "that can hold up a mirror to the government." He also gives his assessement on how Pas, DAP and PKR would do in Kelantan, Penang and elsewhere, criticises Pak Lah and slams the son-in-law.

Here's excerpt of the interview:

“I believe in an opposition. I have always maintained that this country needs an opposition and they should be critical of the government without which we don’t have a mirror to look at our faces. We think that we are very beautiful but it is the opposition that keeps telling us (that may not be true).

“You know the government member (of parliament), sometimes they are ‘ahli bodek’ (apple polishers). They are always saying ‘you’re right’, and you have no means of assessing whether you are going in the right direction or not.”

He told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview today that it would be a “disaster” if the country “loses its opposition” as in Singapore.

Looking a little frail in his trademark bush jacket since his second heart bypass in September last year, Mahathir gave his prognosis on this Saturday’s general elections.He said the government would be able to retain its two-thirds majority but could lost a few seats in Terengganu and Kedah.Mahathir also predicted that the government would win between 70 to 75 percent of Parliament seats on March 8.

In the 2004 general elections, BN won 90 percent of the seats. If Mahathir is correct, then the opposition could win between 55 to 65 seats, which will be a sizable increase from its current tally of 21.Mahathir also did not think the Barisan Nasional coalition would be able to wrest Kelantan state government from Islamic party PAS.

“Kelantan would be a very difficult because although the margin is very small, Kelantanese have got a mind of their own, so to speak. If they are living in KL, they are very supportive of the government but if they are living in Kelantan, the peer pressure is very strong.”

Mahathir also believed that the opposition would do well in Penang, but not enough to win government, or deny BN its two-thirds majority.

Two clarifications

Mahathir also took the opportunity at the interview held at his Perdana Leadership Foundation office in Putrajaya to clarify that there was no prior agreement in which his handpicked successor would serve only one term as prime minister.

“I want to say this, there was no gentleman’s agreement on this but my thinking was that he (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) should serve for one term and give Najib (Razak) who by then would be much older to succeed him,” he said.

The former BN leader who spearheaded BN’s victory in five consecutive elections also ticked off the opposition for seeking to capitalise on something which he had said in jest.

Full interview here

Dr M: Najib understands problems better

FORMER Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has a reputation of being a feisty statesman. Today got the rare chance to meet him at his office in Putrajaya — the city that he personally designed — yesterday. He was all smiles and subtlety as he talked about the general election and his nation's political future, but his views are razor-sharp as ever, as Nazry Bahrawi (nazry@mediacorp.com.sg) found out. - TODAY online

On THE RULING COALITION

The Barisan Nasional has just released its report card. What are your opinions on its achievements since 2004, when Mr Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's first term as Prime Minister began?

DR M: There are of course a lot of negative things that are not in the report card. For example, lots of money is being lost, the prestige of the nation has gone down and the fact is a lot of people cannot find work or business in the country. They have to go elsewhere.

Which achievements would you take issue with?

Islam Hadhari has caused a lot of confusion. There is only one Islam and now they are told that they are followers of Islam Hadhari or modern Islam as if it is a new religion. With regards to the new development corridors, they are just announcements. Nothing has happened on the ground. The amount of money involved is fantastic. It goes into trillions of ringgit and it will happen over a period of maybe 10 to 20 years. So, these are promises. Anybody can make a promise.

What do you think of the Barisan Nasional (BN) election strategy?

I think it is a good strategy and they will gain a lot of support from the people.

On SUCCESSION IN UMNO

How do you see leadership succession panning out in Umno (the United Malays National Organisation) and Malaysia as a whole?

We have certain traditions. Unfortunately, some traditions have partly been broken. For example, no one is allowed to contest leadership position. The Prime Minister determines who the leader will be and any challenge towards the leadership is not permitted. However, some people are actually called up and told not to stand. This is not Umno tradition at all.

In an earlier interview, you suggested that Mr Abdullah should make way for Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. Why did you say that?

I said that I thought he should be PM for one term and that he should be succeeded by Datuk Seri Najib because Datuk Seri Najib is senior to him. From the speeches that he (Najib) makes, he understands problems much better. He does not seem to be concerned about making sure that any support for the previous government was wrong.

But you had personally chosen Mr Abdullah over Mr Najib ...

Well, at that time, he (Abdullah) was a good choice because he was known as Mr Clean. And he was also older. So, I thought he should get a chance to become Prime Minister at least for one term.

What do you think of the possibility of Mr Hishamuddin Hussein or Mr Khairy Jamaluddin playing a bigger role in Umno after the elections?

I think if you follow them, it will be disastrous for the party.

On THE OPPOSITION

What do you think of the opposition, including former DPM Anwar Ibrahim?

The opposition, as usual, has no very strong platform and they cannot work together. So, Anwar Ibrahim is no longer the great hero that he was thought to be ... Even if he were to win a by-election, he would just be a Member of Parliament and nothing more than that.

Do you believe he has successfully united the opposition?

He has not played a bridging role between the DAP (Democratic Action Party) and PAS (Parti Islam SeMalaysia). It is not easy to get DAP and PAS together — they have very different philosophies.

What is your prediction of the outcome of this general election?

I think the National Front will still win but maybe with a reduced majority ... I'm quite sure the unrest on the streets since last November will have some impact on the number of votes cast for the government. There will be a reduced number of votes.

The opposition believes it can deny the government a two-thirds parliamentary majority. Do you think this will happen?

I am not so sure they can deny the BN that. Of course, anything can happen in an election. My guess is that the BN will still get two-thirds of the majority — but not the kind of majority it had in 2004.

To continue, click here