exclusive Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has revived the war against his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, after keeping a low profile following a mild heart attack last November.

In an interview with malaysiakini editors at his Perdana Leadership Foundation office in Putrajaya last Friday, he expressed strong disagreement with Abdullah's way of managing the country, especially in terms of the economic policy.

He had initially wanted the interview, the second with malaysiakini , to be solely on his campaign against war crimes and the three-day conference which draws to a close today in Kuala Lumpur.

However, during the second half of the hour-long meeting, Mahathir - who appears to have fully recovered from the minor heart attack - could not resist giving his views on current affairs when prodded to do so.

It began when he was asked to comment on the call by US Senator Tom Lantos for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks between Malaysia and the US to be halted over a Malaysian company's deal with an Iranian company.

Known to be vocal critic of the US, Mahathir said that Malaysia would only expose itself to pressure if it inks the FTA with the US. He also suggested that the government is more interested in "kowtowing" to the superpower.

"I don't think there is any need for this FTA... In fact there is no need for a FTA with Japan even, because we are doing quite well. Without the FTA, Malaysia is growing at 7, 8 percent (annually). Our trade has reached US$100 billion, no FTA," he said.

"The US needs us as much as we need the US. You apply sanctions against us, the US companies will suffer (too), not only others."

While Malaysia has signed a FTA with Japan in 2005, the government is currently in its fifth round of negotiations for a trade deal with the US.

Proton in 'bad shape'

Mahathir cited the example of the protection given to national car maker Proton, of which he is advisor.

"The US protects its agriculture, why are we so ashamed of protecting Proton for example? We will have to learn to live without having to depend on other people," he said. However, he conceded that Proton is in "very bad shape".

His solution to resuscitating the company? Remove its chairperson Mohamed Azlan Hashim, with whom Mahathir cannot see eye to eye.

"I don't meet him because it is no good. He comes here not to hear my advice, he comes here to advise me on what he has done, that is the reversal of an advisor's role," said Mahathir.

He also said Langkawi's growth has been neglected ever since he stepped down in 2003, causing him to spend his money on developing the island.

Similarly, he expressed unhappiness over maintenance of his other pet project, Putrajaya. However, he would not reveal the cost of constructing the new federal administrative capital - shrouded in secrecy thus far - apart from describing it "very competitive".

On public resentment over the recent toll hike, Mahathir suggested that the government should have earlier re-pegged the ringgit from 3.8 to 3.5 (exchange rate of ringgit to US dollar) as it would have helped strengthen the ringgit and pressured traders to lower the price of imported goods.

"If you do a check on the prices of the imported goods and strengthen the ringgit by 10 percent, you can go and tell them, 'look, now the ringgit is stronger, I know you are paying less for your imports, so lower your price'.

"Then people will get money in their pocket just by doing a very simple thing; but they want to go along the lines of international practice, they want to allow the money to float."

He said that while the ringgit has strengthened to RM3.50, prices of goods have not fallen.

Ananda 'bothered' me

Mahathir, 81, who was dressed in his favourite bush jacket with a campaign button 'In search of peace', appeared relaxed throughout the interview. His responses were punctuated with jokes and his trademark sarcasm.

He was quick to dismiss a claim that his former deputy Anwar Ibrahim had informed him of corruption involving two government leaders while he was in power.

"Nonsense, he didn't give any evidence. Anwar cakap bohong (is telling lies)... He never can tell (the) truth, he tells lies."

Elaborating on the government's recent acquisition of an executive jet worth millions of ringgit, Mahathir reiterated that it is "very important" to purchase the jet.

"Some people may have heard the Agong say 'please buy me another plane, I need another plane', that's why they bought (it)," he said.

Abdullah, earlier said to have been behind the purchase, has clarified that the government bought the jet through one of its companies for the use of top officials, including the King.

On the alleged purchase of a super yacht in Turkey that Abdullah has also denied, Mahathir said he was told billionaire Ananda Krishan was the one who wanted to build it.

"He (Ananda) keeps on bothering me, asking me about the design, I don't care, I gave my opinion," he said, adding that he persuaded the billionaire to bring the yacht to the Telaga Harbour in Langkawi but the former has declined to do so.

Asked about the progress of his bakery business in Langkawi called 'The Loaf' - a joint project with a Japanese company - Mahathir grinned and replied: "Bakery is okay- lah ".

When pressed as to whether he is making any profit out of it, he laughed and said: "So far, they are eating the bread."

The interview could have gone on except for urgent signals from Mahathir's aide that his boss was scheduled to attend Friday prayers at the mosque he built in Putrajaya.

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