M'sia PM hopes protracted power transfer will quell political jitters

M'sia PM hopes protracted power transfer will quell political jitters
13 July, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MALAYSIA'S prime minister has insisted that his plan for a protracted power transfer will restore political calm and enable him to fulfill promises to curb corruption and strengthen the judiciary.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's comments on Saturday, reported by the national news agency Bernama, came as his government mounted one of its biggest crackdowns on corruption, detaining top immigration officials suspected of accepting bribes.

Mr Abdullah's critics have accused him of failing to deliver on reform pledges, but he said he hopes to achieve results before handing power to his deputy in mid-2010.

Mr Abdullah told Bernama that his leadership transfer plan - an effort to resolve the political crisis facing his Cabinet since a major electoral setback in March - should put most politicians at ease ahead of the ruling party's internal elections in coming months. Mr Abdullah intends to defend his top party post against potential rivals.

'When I made the decision (to hand over power in 2010), it means there will be less infighting, there will be less campaigning against one another,' Bernama quoted Mr Abdullah as saying.

Mr Abdullah denied trying to cling to office, saying the two-year transition would give his deputy, Mr Najib Razak, time to prepare to take over and to spearhead the government's efforts to regain lost ground ahead of general elections due by mid-2013.

Mr Abdullah said he will utilise his remaining time in office and 'not slow down'. Mr Abdullah was among Malaysia's most popular figures when he succeeded longtime leader Mahathir Mohamad in 2003, but his reputation had eroded badly by the time he led the ruling coalition to its worst-ever performance in March general elections.

Promise to retire

Mr Abdullah said he will keep his promise to retire in 2010, and not extend his term beyond that, official Bernama news agency reported.

Mr Abdullah had said he would hand over the reins to his deputy Najib Razak in June 2010, hoping to silence calls for him to quit after his government's disastrous showing in March polls.

'I won't go to Najib and tell him 'They like me now, can you allow me to stay on for another one year?'' the premier was quoted as saying in a Bernama interview late on Saturday.

'If anything were to happen (such as an economic crisis), he (Najib) will have to settle that.'

Some analysts say Mr Abdullah may find it hard to hold on for another two years, due to public discontent over the rising cost of living, a series of political scandals dogging his party and a revitalised opposition snapping at his government's heels.

The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which has led Malaysia since independence from British rule in 1957, is facing its worst crisis in 50 years.

On Saturday, Malaysian police said they were preparing for a mass gathering outside Parliament on Monday called by the opposition, which wants a parliamentary debate on a motion of no-confidence in the government.

Analysts say should the premier survive the challenges he faces, he could stay on until after mid-2010 as Mr Najib's rise to power is not seen as a done deal.

Political observers say the deputy premier could stumble in his quest to take over from Mr Abdullah, with several members of the dominant United Malays National Organisation (Umno) party also eyeing the party presidency, which by convention, also carries the country's premiership post.

Mr Najib has had to fight allegations that he was linked to a sex and murder scandal involving a Mongolian model. -- REUTERS