Politics 101 Malaysia

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s decision to step down in favour of his deputy in mid-2010 has not silenced calls for a prompt change of leadership after a drubbing in March elections.

Abdullah said Thursday he had struck an agreement with his deputy Najib Razak to hand over power, but first wanted the opportunity to implement reforms and projects promised since he came to office five years ago.

The premier has faced repeated calls to resign from within his ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), after unprecedented losses in the elections and a fuel price hike that triggered public outrage, reports AFP.

Although his announcement was aimed at silencing these dissident factions, and averting a challenge in UMNO leadership polls in December, rumblings from within have already begun. ”Continued”

Going by the consensus emanating from last week’s retreat of leaders of the ruling Umno - or at least going by what wasn’t said - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s plans to stay in power until 2010 could be overly ambitious.

According to Umno insiders, the meeting comprising most members of the party’s supreme council, its highest policymaking body, discussed the leadership issue and the need for a smooth transition of power between Abdullah and Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his deputy in both government and the party.

However, the insiders said that almost no one came out in strong defence of Abdullah or indicated that he could complete his full term as leader.

Instead, the insiders claimed that the consensus seemed to be that Abdullah should be allowed to defend his presidency in December’s party polls, after which he should leave with his dignity intact perhaps between March and June next year. Najib indicated to the members, apparently, that the final transition date would be worked out between the prime minister and himself. ”Continued”

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, reports AFP.

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. ”Continued”

Sometimes I hear some really out of this world comments. Today was one of those days.

A very determined female thinks she has the Ezam thingy all sussed up.

“Actually ah, Ezam is Anwar’s spy, sent back to Umno to help engineer a few defections.”

Wow. Rofl.

by Jonathan Manthorpe, Vancouver Sun, May 26, 2008

The verbal sniping match between Malaysia’s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and his hand-picked successor Abdullah Badawi has blossomed into a full-blown political brawl that some predict will bring down the coalition that has ruled the country for 51 years.

Mahathir, who considers himself the father of Malaysia’s economic and social success during his 22 years in power, began about a year ago publicly questioning his own judgement in handing leadership to the underwhelming Abdullah in 2003.

Abdullah has been more restrained in his responses, but 10 days ago he moved the contest from being a war of words in the newspapers into the realms of a grudge match.

Abdullah is fighting for his political life after the bad showing of the ruling 14-party Barisan Nasional coalition in March elections. ”Continued”

by S Pathmawathy, malaysiakini, May 21.

Parliamentarians have voiced condemnation of the person who sent DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh a live 9mm bullet and a threatening note yesterday.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said: “We have democracy in this country. Nobody should use underhand tactics to achieve something outside democracy.

“If there is any unhappiness over statements made by MPs, there are proper channels to go through. I condemn people who choose anarchy to achieve their objectives.”

Asked if the prime minister or parliamentarians who have been critical of Karpal’s remarks on the powers of the sultan in state administration were partly to blame, Nazri jumped to their defence. ”Continued”

Two days after quitting Umno, ex-president and premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has suggested another way to force his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down, reports malaysiakini.

Barisan Nasional MPs should hop out of the coalition, he wrote in a concise 10-point post on his blog, Chedet.com

“We have heard a lot about the possibility of BN members hopping into opposition parties. If 35 members join the opposition, BN will fall. The opposition will win and form the next government,” he wrote.

He reasoned that BN representatives should not hop into any opposition party in Pakatan Rakyat.

“What will happen to all the BN party hoppers? They won’t become PM because surely the Pakatan leader will become PM. Other Pakatan members will also become ministers and deputy ministers,” he explained. ”Continued”

Rumours have it that a succession plan is in place for the graceful exit of Pak Lah.

If the rumours are true, Pak Lah will be slowly eased out of the picture as Najib gathers momentum to take over as Umno President unopposed.

Goodbye Pak Lah. You can sleep-in everyday from now on.

by Carolyn Hong, Apr 5.

For a tiny town in rural Kelantan, Gua Musang has a very large district police station. You can’t miss it. It sits just outside the town, and looks almost like a craft complex with its traditional Malay architecture.

It was my first time in Gua Musang on Friday, a two-hour 150km journey from Kota Baru, and it was to listen to Tengku Razaleigh’s first speech in his campaign to unseat the prime minister.

It was worth the journey. ”Continued”