The prime minister has said that the decision to call off the scenic bridge project between Johor and it southern neighbor Singapore would not be reviewed and that his decision should be respected by all especially his chief critic who has made numerous scathing remarks against his leadership.

I am sure the prime minister has consulted his legal advisers on the fallout that would follow if the government continued with the bridge project without getting the blessing of the Singapore government.

The prime minister has the mandate of the electorate to rule and his position as the number one man in the government should be respected by all. He is not beholden to his predecessor to remain in office but only to the electorate of this country.

For the former premier to blackmail the present prime minister to win his (Dr Mahathir Mohamad's) is not fair as Mahathir no longer holds office and cannot hold the present administration to ransom just because his pet projects were scrapped.

However, if one were to study the former premier's combative attitude, it will be wishful thinking to ask him to shut his mouth and not speak ill of the present government. Bridges have been burnt between Pak Lah and his predecessor and nobody - be they in the party or from outside - can be an honest broker to resolve the conflict between both parties.

For the rest of us, it a 'deja vu' as Umno - the largest party in this country - seems to suffer from an internal crisis about every 10 years since 1988. History has a funny way of repeating itself and now with Mahathir being the new voice of the opposition, what fate will BN suffer come the general elections?

The current Umno internal crisis is a golden opportunity for the opposition to win more seats and maybe even state government in the Malay heartland.