Malaysian Prime Minister Acts to Consolidate Power
International Herald Tribune
January 9, 1999
Tom Fuller

CORRECTION PUBLISHED IN THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE ON JANUARY 12, 1998:

Because of an editing error, an article in the Jan. 9-10 editions gave an incorrect date for general elections in Malaysia. Under the British-style parliamentary system, they must be held before April 2000.
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Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad of Malaysia filled several key government posts Friday with staunch loyalists in a cabinet shake-up intended to further cement his control of the government and its policies.

Mr. Mahathir said Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, a party veteran, will relinquish his post as foreign minister to become deputy prime minister, the second most powerful spot in the government. That post has been vacant since the dismissal in September of Anwar Ibrahim and his subsequent arrest on corruption charges. Mr. Abdullah, foreign minister since 1991, also took the job of home minister, a position relinquished by Mr. Mahathir, in which he will oversee such key institutions as the police and the press.

The move puts Mr. Abdullah, 59, in a strong position to succeed Mr. Mahathir, 73, who has said he will step down only when Malaysia has recovered from its economic and political turmoil.

A confidant of the prime minister's, Daim Zainnudin, considered the architect of much of Malaysia's corporate and economic model, was named finance minister, a position he held during the nation's last recession, in the late 1980s.

Mr. Mahathir also said that party elections, scheduled for June, would be postponed for at least 18 months. The party, the United Malays National Organization, had been widely expected to name a deputy president in June to replace Mr. Anwar. Traditionally, the party deputy president is deputy prime minister.

Mahathir will effectively prevent dissidents in the party from mounting an internal challenge to him before general elections scheduled for April 2000.

Analysts said the delay would give the new ministers, especially Mr. Abdullah, time to prepare for strong challenges it can expect from opposition parties.

"He doesn't want potentially divisive party elections to distract from his economic recovery," said Chandra Muzzafar, professor of political science at the University of Malaya. "He is thinking of the general elections and maybe feels that one has to face them first."

But even as Mr. Mahathir was making his announcement Friday, his former protégé, Mr. Anwar, cast a shadow over the moves. The imprisoned former deputy prime minister announced that he would sue Mr. Mahathir for the injuries he sustained in September when he was beaten by the police in prison.

In court papers filed Friday, Mr. Anwar's lawyers described how he was placed in a cell blindfolded and handcuffed, then "felt a hard punch on his left eye and forehead." He said he held Mr. Mahathir responsible for the assault. As home minister at the time, Mr. Mahathir was in control of the police. Mr. Anwar has also demanded compensation from Abdul Rahim Noor, a top police officer who resigned Thursday and took full responsibility for the beating.

Meanwhile, Mr. Anwar was denied bail Friday by the judge presiding over his trial on sodomy and corruption charges. Judge Augustine Paul rejected a motion by Mr. Anwar's lawyers that he be freed during the trial on the grounds that he might intimidate witnesses.

Any further investigation into the beating of Mr. Anwar will now fall under Mr. Abdullah's responsibility as home minister.

Mr. Abdullah has held several cabinet posts over the years, including the education and foreign affairs portfolios. After accepting his new role Friday he said: "I thank the prime minister and I promise to fulfill my duties the best I can."

Among other appointments, Syed Hamid Albar, the defense minister, was made foreign minister to replace Mr. Abdullah, and Abang Abu Bakar, an official in the Prime Minister's Department, was named defense minister.

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