Dr Mahathir Mohamad is a seasoned politician and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must never underestimate him. Dr Mahathir has done so much for Malaysia and many Malaysians have become very, very successful financially especially Malay bumiputeras.

It is important for Abdullah to realise that Dr Mahathir had groomed him up, and appointed him to be the PM despite the fact that Abdullah received less votes than Najib Razak.

This gesture and profound trust in Abdullah by Mahathir to be his successor cannot be monetised hence the need for Abdullah not to abandon Mahathir's policies completely. If I were Abdullah, I would think out of the box and call Mahathir directly. There is no need for any intermediaries. They are both adults and it would be a pity if they are not able to solve their differences amicably.

If their differences turn nasty, as leaders, they will show very bad examples to all Malaysians especially the younger generation who look up to them as role models. I also think the option to sack Mahathir from Umno or the using of hostile executive power to silence him, say through ISA or other laws, will not augur well for all Malaysians.

Abdullah's policies may have been influenced by very young advisors who have yet to withstand the test of time. They are already making major policy recommendations for the country. I noted Abdullah's son-in-law's (Khaiy Jamaluddin) media interview some time ago concerning the NEP and quite frankly, I am not impressed with him at all.

Although he is an Oxford graduate, his policy arguments are quite shallow and at best very theoretical. Abdullah may be best advised to revisit his policies for the country as obviously they are not working out successfully and there are deep sentiments against them.

For example, diesel prices should not have been raised when Petronas made RM$70 billion the last financial year. There is absolutely no logic in this.

Clarification: It wasn't me...