In announcing yesterday, 25 June after the UMNO Supreme Council Meeting that Dr Mahathir would retire after the OIC Summit next year and that he has been named the successor, Abdullah Badawi stressed that his announcement would end all speculations. How wrong Abdullah was. It actually sparked off more speculations with more questions raised. Is Abdullah Badawi now effectively the Prime Minister, and what has been described as a period of transition is actually a face saving device for Dr Mahathir? Or is this yet another deceptive move by Dr Mahathir?

Those who believe that Dr Mahathir was actually forced to step down argued that UMNO members have come round to realize that Dr Mahathir has become a serious threat to the party’s survival. They argued that his support of the US war on terrorism which is seen by many Muslims as being in actual fact a war on Islam has further eroded Malay support for UMNO. His labeling of the Palestinians as terrorists, the MRSM issue, the English language issue, and his recent trip to the Vatican to see the Pope at a time when moves were underway at home to place more curbs on Islamic religious schools had further driven the Malays away from UMNO. Mahathir must therefore be removed as party leader if the party hope to win back Malay support.

“Abdullah Badawi is definitely number one now. Otherwise he would not have dared to approve the use of a special Air Force aircraft to carry the remains of opposition PAS leader, Fadzil Noor to the deceased home state for burial,” insisted someone who believe Dr Mahathir is no longer the PM.

Many however refused to be fooled by Dr Mahathir. They view Mahathir’s offer to step down as yet another deceptive move to win back support. They suspect he wants to draw out those within UMNO who are opposed to his leadership, and then crack down on them using the ISA. The old devil certainly is up to his dirty tricks again. Furthermore, it is inconceivable that any faction within UMNO can topple Mahathir since he has the faithful backing of the police.

And so more and more questions would be raised as the puzzle gets to be more intricate. Is Abdullah Badawi a lame duck or is he effectively in control? Is Dr Mahathir really serious about resigning as the Prime Minister of Malaysia? Yes, it is endless, and perhaps at the end of it all Dr Mahathir would come out strong and continue to be in power and die in office.

Tarabulsi.

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Terbitan : 26 Jun 2002

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