Mahathir expects to be ousted from ruling party
JUNE 27, 2006
The Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad said Tuesday that he expected to be expelled from the ruling party following his unbridled criticism of the government that has roiled the country's politics and raised fears of instability.

"I know there is this process of demonizing me" in the ruling United Malays National Organization party, Mahathir told reporters. "I think they will take action to expel me ... they are building up toward it," he said.

Mahathir's relations with the government have plummeted in recent months in the wake of his stinging attacks on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Although UMNO has backed Abdullah in the row, Mahathir is believed to have some supporters in the party, creating fears that he could split the party and destabilize the government.

Government ministers have said in the past that there was no plan to expel Mahathir. But by making his claim, the ex-prime minister seemed to challenge Abdullah to fire him and test his support.

Mahathir said "many people" have urged him to keep up the criticism because they are dissatisfied with Abdullah's policies but dare not object openly. But even if he is expelled, Mahathir warned, "it is not going to stop me from criticizing."

Mahathir stepped down after 22 years in office in October 2003, handing over power to Abdullah, a hand-picked successor. Their relations began to sour last year as Abdullah reversed many of Mahathir's policies, including a pullback on many extravagant infrastructure projects.

For Mahathir, the last straw was the canceling of his dream project to build a second bridge between Malaysia and Singapore earlier this year.

Since then Mahathir has lashed out at Abdullah almost weekly, accusing him of being a back-stabber and describing the government as incompetent. He has also suggested that Abdullah's 31-year-old son-in-law is influencing policy decisions.

The intensity of Mahathir's insults has shocked many Malaysians, who admire Abdullah for his integrity as much as they venerate Mahathir for being a nation builder and the architect of modern Malaysia.

Abdullah himself has treated Mahathir with kid gloves, refusing to be drawn into a debate with him, instead leaving it to his ministers to answer Mahathir's tirade.

Mahathir has responded by accusing the ministers of being puppets who dance to Abdullah's tune like "the Rockettes."

Abdullah's supporters say Mahathir is going back on his promise not to interfere in the government after retirement. Business leaders warn that the political uncertainty will drive away foreign investors, an important engine of the country's economy.

On Monday, the government minister in charge of law, Nazri Aziz, said Mahathir has declared an "open war" on the government, and it would be better if he quit UMNO voluntarily instead of behaving like an opposition leader within the party.

Mahathir dismissed Nazri's criticism, describing him as a "hatchet man."

Copyright © 2006 the International Herald Tribune