Abdullah says his style different from Mahathir

Bernama – 16 January, 2006

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he has different style of running the country compared to his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

"We're two different persons. We have our ways of doing things, of what needs to be done and how things should be done. I am not concerned about that. I have been given the biggest mandate ever obtained by any Malaysian leader," Abdullah said in the column 'Global Viewpoint' in the Bangkok Post Sunday. 

The premier said this when asked about his philosophy of leadership by a group of foreign journalists attending a programme arranged by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Putrajaya last month. He, however, said the nation was moving forward to becoming a developed country by 2020, the vision of Dr Mahathir, adding that his government was a continuation of the previous administration. 

Abdullah, who took office on Oct 31, 2003, said although his government held a strong majority of more than 90 per cent, he had allowed the backbenchers in parliament to come up with very tough questions for members of the government. 

"I told them that your role is to be constructive in your criticisms. This is not only the role of the opposition," he added. Abdullah said he wanted to be firm about many things. 

"...not only about whether I am strong, or trying to be strong or trying to be weak. Fairness and justice must be the strong reason for why you want to do certain things, and they must be the objective for anything to be implemented," he said. 

The premier said his emphasis was on the development of human capital. 

"You can give soldiers the best weapons, but if they do not know how to shoot, then what is the use? Teachers who cannot discipline children can never give a good education," he said. Although many have said he was taking Malaysia back by several years by returning to agriculture, Abdullah said the possibilities of making agriculture a fully growth sector were there with the introduction of biotechnology. 

Asked about corruption, Abdullah said it must be curbed although it was not an easy task as evidence and facts must be established before a person can be prosecuted. 

On the main economic challenges to Malaysia, Abdullah said it's the competitiveness and the ability to compete for everything, including the markets and the resources. 

Although China has emerged as a competitor and many countries see it as a threat, Abdullah said Malaysia regarded China as a friend and an opportunity. He said Malaysia had to find a niche for itself and something that could do favourably vis-a-vis China and not the same being done by the country, like going for production of low-cost industries using low cost labour.  

Speaking about Asean, Abdullah, who chaired the Asean Summit and the inaugural East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur last month, said Malaysia wanted to see it as a group and as a single unit that was very viable to face the competition and position favourably vis-a-vis China and India. 

He said Asean was moving towards integration and had many positive indicators like a population of 530 million, an area that is rich in natural resources and human capital, and active world traders like Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

Source: Bernama | www.bernama.com