Dr M makes direct attack on Abdullah
Possible proxy war in Umno as it holds its elections next year, say
analysts
FORMER Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has launched yet
another blistering attack on the administration of his successor
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday in an escalating war of words over
the scrapped bridge project to replace the Causeway linking
Singapore.
Dr Mahathir: Has made his distaste plain since Mr Abdullah scrapped
the proposed bridge
'That there should be any Malaysian leader willing to entertain
this idea (to sell sand and), to destroy Malaysian seas to satisfy
Singapore, speaks badly of his love of his country,' said Dr
Mahathir in the first apparent direct attack on Mr Abdullah over
the issue.
The latest fusillade, which was a response to remarks made by
Malaysian ambassador-at-large Fuzi Abdul Razak on Monday, was
delivered from London where Dr Mahathir is vacationing. Dr Mahathir
- who issued the statement through an aide - described Mr Fuzi's
remarks as 'rambling' and 'not convincing at all'.
Earlier this month, Malaysia terminated negotiations with Singapore
on the proposal to jointly build a bridge to replace the
Causeway.
As part of the deal, Singapore had wanted to buy sand from Malaysia
and use its air space.
But Mr Abdullah's decision, which was backed by all his other
Cabinet colleagues, has riled Dr Mahathir, who felt that Malaysia
had the right to proceed with the project without Singapore's
blessing.
In essence, the former premier argued: 'The proper thing to do if
the Government wants to build the bridge would be to seek
arbitration or refer to a court if Malaysia is uncertain as to the
right of Singapore to impose new conditions unilaterally.'
Dr Mahathir also described the possibility of Singapore refusing to
allow the half-bridge to be connected to its side of the Causeway
(a scenario raised by Malaysia's Foreign Ministry) as 'sheer
nonsense'.
The reason: The design allowed the proposed half-bridge to end on
the Malaysian side of the Causeway.
'The only way Singapore can prevent traffic from the bridge from
passing through from the Malaysian portion of the Causeway into the
Singapore half is to put a barrier across the Causeway
border.
'This would certainly constitute an unfriendly act,' Dr Mahathir
argued.
'It would be Singapore cutting its nose to spite its face.
'The damage to Singapore businesses would be at least as bad as
that which Malaysia may suffer.
'But in reality, Singapore needs Malaysia more than Malaysian needs
Singapore. We have our ports and airports to replace Singapore
ports, airports and other services,' he added.
Singapore has maintained that Malaysia has no sovereign right to
replace the Causeway linking it to Singapore.
This is because any major work related to the Causeway, which also
carries the pipelines supplying water to Singapore, will affect the
two countries in a variety of areas of vital importance to both
countries.
But in the spirit of good neighbourliness, Singapore was ready to
consider a bridge if there was 'a balance of benefits' for
Singapore.
It's still too early to gauge if Dr Mahathir's continued sniping
can affect Mr Abdullah politically but it cannot be helping.
Dr Mahathir, 80, is still revered within the United Malays National
Organisation (Umno), over which Mr Abdullah presides.
But no one expects him to make a political comeback following his
retirement in 2003 after 22 years in office.
What worries political analysts and policymakers, however, is the
prospect of a proxy war in the dominant political party, egged on
by the former premier.
Dr Mahathir upped the ante last week by writing letters directly to
Umno delegates all over the country, explaining his position on the
bridge project.
That implied that the issue was getting political: Umno is
scheduled to hold its elections next year and every position -
including Mr Abdullah's - could be up for grabs.
Ever since Mr Abdullah scrapped the proposed bridge, Dr Mahathir's
pet project, the former premier has made his distaste plain and in
increasingly forceful language.
'It looks like open warfare now,' said one official.
