I am amazed at malaysiakini 's content - that of rumors and speculations peddled by your esteemed column writer, MGG Pillai in his [#1] Dr M-Daim - Napoleon gone apart?[/#] (April 20). Hello, what is happening to that cutting edge in journalism based on facts instead of rumours that malaysiakini is supposed to take its readers to through the Internet?

If Pillai's rumours were to be believed, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is definitely on the right track to salvage his legacy and return triumphant.

After all, in the wake of ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's fall from grace, the main grouses of Mahathir's detractors are: 1) abuse of power and 2) bailouts and cronyism that supposedly plague his administration.

The creation of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) in 1999 was Mahathir's answer to redress abuse of power.

According to your report [#2] Suhakam's report gets thumbs up from opposition [/#] (April 20), "opposition leaders commended Suhakam's maiden annual report, which was submitted to Parliament yesterday". This being the case, the opposition has, in all fairness, to give thumbs up to the PM, too, for creating this institution of Suhakam in the first place to champion the cause of human rights against abuse of power. Is there any other institution like this in other parts of the world?

On the issue of bailouts, if Pillai's rumours that "the government rescue of MAS' principal shareholder, Tajudin Ramli, was forced upon the cabinet" and "Dr Mahathir is annoyed that EPF funds were used to bail out, in his words, 'a private company', which Time dotCom is" were to be believed, this would yet lead to the irresistible inference that the PM was not personally in favour of nor responsible for such bailouts - and therefore should not be personally blamed, except in the much mitigated circumstance of him being vicariously responsible in his official capacity as PM for what his subordinate cabinet minister did.

On the issue of cronyism, if Pillai's rumours of a real split between the PM and the person whom Pillai described as having "cronies and proteges linked to every major privatisation of government assets" and "directly or indirectly controlling as much as 60 percent of the counters on the KLSE" were true, it will also mean that it is a major step on the PM's part to rid the administration of the perception of cronyism - but it can also mean that the KLSE may be in grave peril since that person can sell down 60 percent of KLSE counters as a consequence of the alleged split! It can further mean that the PM is fully vindicated for not having earlier exercised his powers to stop bailouts and cronyism because that might place the KLSE and Malaysian corporate interest, and hence the economic interest of the country as a whole, to risks.

I am really amused because whether Pillai realises it or not, he is, indirectly by his 'rumours', absolving the PM personally from both scores of bailouts and cronyism - which is interesting considering these rumours come from a man who is one of the PM's more articulate detractors and who, not too long ago, wrote about the PM's deserving immunity as if he had personally done anything wrong in the first place for the issue immunity to arise.

Pillai's rumours are open to more than one 'speculative' interpretation - and even one diametrically opposite his, and it is this.

First, whatever the alleged differences between the PM and the Finance Minister, the unifying factors may well be more than the divisive ones and hence, on balance, there can be no real split.

Neither is there any real need to correct erroneous perception of such split by the likes of Pillai because a sandiwara of split will buttress the perception that the PM is actually personally adverse to cronyism and bailouts that he is often maligned with.

Then again there is nothing strange in the Finance Minister's resigning because he is all along well known for being a reluctant politician, persuaded to stay on because of national interest, but eager to return to private business.

Pillai's suspicion of split is based on the PM's appointment of his special economic advisers, Ali Abul Hassan Sulaiman, the former Bank Negara governor, and Nor Mohamed Yakop as a buffer to the Finance Ministry. Pillai asked, "Why should he (PM) have them when Daim is already economic adviser to the government?" He then concluded the appointments evinced a split.

But there may be no split. Daim may genuinely desire to resign, and it is perhaps about time, if you were to believe Pillai's speculations for the "dark horse, whom I shall not name now", to "be economic adviser and eventually finance minister".

Perhaps the special economic advisers, Ali Abul Hassan Sulaiman and Nor Mohamed Yakop are intended more to be a buffer to the new finance minister rather than his predecessor. For the new 'dark horse' should not be a long-time ally or associate (hence the need for buffer) due to widespread allegations of cronyism.

Anyway, to continue speculation in the same vein as Pillai, the new Finance Minister should preferably be a senior Umno stalwart, well-versed in economics, with a track record of building up - and now rebuilding the much battled corporate side of Umno - and relatively impeccable in integrity and preferably with credentials of having openly challenged the PM before, and hence definitely cannot be branded a crony. Even better still if he could bring back some states from the opposition. But the main quality is capability to help the country confront the economic challenges of a global slowdown.

With the present genteel but firm ex-challenger ensconced as deputy premier and heir apparent, and another ensconced as chairperson of Suhakam to do battle against human rights abuse, no one can dispute the PM's emphasis on capability as a prerequisite to future inheritance of office (even if it means giving ex-challengers important positions), and placing national interest way above personal feelings.

Then again isn't this also speculation of a quality like that of Pillai's though not quite the same conclusion? To be at the forefront of journalism, malaysiakini 's content should preferably be based on reporting or comments based on facts, and not rumours and speculations.

For all kinds of conclusions may be drawn from rumours and speculations depending on one's inclinations, prejudices and imagination - just like that the last one I spun out of my bias that the PM may still leave behind a glorious legacy to heal the rift of a divided nation traumatised by the Anwar episode, by moving the administration away from abuse of power and cronyism and structuring a leadership lineup that holds the best promise of ushering in a new dawning of a golden era for the country.

When this is apparent, in time to come, after the dusts of the conflict with Anwar has settled, faults will be forgotten, and legacy remembered.