The gloves are off and the fight is on between two political titans. Malaysiakini provides a selection of the news reports and analyses on this battle royale.


Round 5

Huge mandate: 'Pak Lah may not have it again'

The government's No 1 critic swings back into action in early 2007 after recuperating from his heart attack. Round 5 to continue...


Round 4 - Mahathir suffers heart attack

'The old man smashed Khairy's pot of rice'
No hope of reconciliation for Dr M-Pak Lah
Dr M sorry for missing assembly
Dr M's shadow looms at Umno meeting
'I'm not a one-term premier'
Recovering Mahathir to skip Umno assembly
Mahathir suffers heart attack
Pak Lah has 'short attention span'
No action against Mahathir
Dr M: I'll not step down from advisory posts
Sack Dr M from all posts: Youth leader
Pak Lah is almost like a saint, says Dr M
Mahathir's 'doses of venom' sickens Pak Lah
Mahathir says M'sia now a 'police state'
Dr M-Pak Lah feud: A chronology of events
Mahathir says attacks on gov't will not stop

There was a feeble attempt for reconciliation when the two men met briefly. But soon after it was clear that it did not work out. All eyes were on Mahathir on whether he would go to the Umno AGM. However, Mahathir sustained a self-inflicted blow when he suffered a mild heart attack. Round 4 a draw.


Round 3 - A humiliating defeat

Dr M: Khairy and 'Patrick Badawi' rule Terengganu
Dr M's 'nepotism' exposed online
Pak Lah: I've not lost control
Pak Bela!
'Buying' votes for Dr M - Nazri adds a twist
Pak Lah has 'habit of lying': Dr M
Mahathir fails - came in ninth place
Mahathir says he's now an outcast in Umno
Pak Lah: No problems with Dr M as delegate
Kubang Pasu chief: Let members decide on Dr M
Mahathir fades, but Mahathirism thrives
Oil for food: Probe Pak Lah, says Dr M
Govt will not reverse decision on bridge
Mahathir: I did not shackle the judiciary
Dr M sah bertanding jadi perwakilan Umno Kubang Pasu

Mahathir maintained his tempo in the beginning of the round by stating his intention to contest to be an Umno delegate to the party AGM. However, Abdullah finished strongly at the end of the round with a number of quick punches. Round 3 goes to Abdullah.


Round 2 - Tear gas 'attack'

Prasyarat Tun sebelum gencatan senjata (Bhg akhir)
Prasyarat Tun sebelum gencatan senjata (Bhg I)
Of spraying and political symbolism
Khairy liabiliti Perdana Menteri
PM on the run
Reappraising Mahathir's legacy
Mahathir dan labu labinya
Dr M takes on Pak Lah's family, friends
Musa confirms attack linked to supporters' rivalry
Pak Lah 'very angry' over attack on Dr M
'I was PM for the country, not my family'
Mahathir attacked, mayhem in KB
All hail Kelantan's new hero... Dr M
Dr M: No trace of sand on declassified letters
Mahathir's speech on landing in Subang
Pak Lah: I'm not under Khairy's influence
Pak Lah breaks 'elegant silence'

Mahathir landed at Subang airport and launched yet another salvo at Abdullah. He elicited sympathy after he was pepper sprayed in Kota Bharu. Abdullah went further on the defensive. Mahathir drews blood when Khairy announced that he would sell his ECM-Libra shares. Round 2 goes to Mahathir.


Round 1 - Opening salvos

FAQ untuk Mahathir
Time for Najib, cabinet to resign
Dr M lebih baik dari Pak Lah?
Let 'em slug it out
Mahathir the Changemaster
'Peace pipe' Zam in a fix
Mahathir-Abdullah conflict dissected
Thank you, Dr M
Pak Lah or Pak Blah?
Dr M's karmic cycle
Will Umno sack Mahathir?
Pre-empting Mahathir's next move
Behind the Mahathir Confrontation
Cabinet trips to 'Abilene'
He helped rid two PMs, will Pak Lah be next?
Brand new Malay dilemma
Betrayal in the dark corridors of power
Dr M vs Pak Lah: Between Yin and Yang
Dr M: Pak Lah not my first choice
Q&A: They stab me in the back, says Mahathir

Mahathir kicked off the opening bout with a blistering attack on Abdullah. The ferocity of the attack took Abdullah by surprise. Abdullah immediately went on defensive with his not-so-elegant silence. At the end of the round, both men took overseas holiday. Round 1 goes to Mahathir.

It took us six years to get this interview. Ex-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad talks to malaysiakini.


PART 1

Dr M: He made some wrong moves

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who led the nation for 22 years, is disappointed with certain decisions made by his handpicked successor who took over the reins three years ago.

Q&A: I'm disappointed, says Mahathir

Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks on his differences with the present leadership over national carmaker Proton and the half-bridge to Singapore in this first of a three-part series.

Why did he talk to Malaysiakini?

That was the question put to him by a reporter during a function attended by Mahathir in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

Interviewing Dr M

Dr Mahathir Mohamad still holds the highest office in the country. Literally that is. As advisor to national oil company Petronas, he occupies the topmost floor of the world's second tallest building - Kuala Lumpur's Twin Towers.

PART 2

Dr M: PM's sons have no business with govt

As a matter of principle, children and wives of prime ministers should not conduct any business with the government, said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad in an interview with malaysiakini last week.

Q&A: My criticisms are constructive

In this second part of the interview, 82-year-old Dr Mahathir Mohamad talks about PM's sons getting into business and politics, and press freedom.

PART 3

Dr M: No patching up with Anwar

Any reconciliation would signal that the ex-premier was wrong in sacking his former deputy. This is the final of the three-part Malaysiakini interview with Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Q&A: Perwaja was not a mistake, says Dr M

Ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad defends his plan to build failed steel plant Perwaja, which suffered colossal losses, in this final of a three-part series.



THE MAHATHIR TAPES

Mahathir vents frustration on DVD

A two-hour DVD depicting former Umno strongman Dr Mahathir Mohamad flaying the current crop of leaders for 'lacking courage' is currently making its rounds as the party celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Mahathir vents frustration on DVD, Pt 2

The following is the final part of Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Q&A session with a group of Malay professionals in a close-door talk organised by think-tank Ikape.

Dr M on current issues in Malaysian politics

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad held a closed-door-session with a group of Malay professionals last year, where he addressed several interesting issues.