A tell-all book with an insider account of the administrative styles of Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Abdul Razak was officially launched by former deputy premier Musa Hitam today.

The book - The Unmaking of Malaysia - is authored by Ahmad Mustapha Hassan, who had served as press secretary to both Mahathir and Abdul Razak.

The 282-page holds-no-bar memoir compares the administrative styles of Abdul Razak and Mahathir.

Ahmad Mustapha, 71, served as press secretary under Abdul Razak from 1974 to 1975 and Mahathir, from 1976 to 1980, when he was deputy prime minister.

The book also makes controversial claims about the author's involvement in helping prominent businessmen Vincent Tan and Ananda Krishnan arrange business transactions.

Speaking at the launch, Musa maintained that he respected Ahmad Mustapha's opinions but did not agree with everything stated in the book.

Touted as the first insider account of Malaysian administration in the 1970s and 1980s, this book has high praise for Abdul Razak but is critical of Mahathir's tenure.

According to Ahmad Mustapha, who is Mahathir's nephew - his mother is Mahathir's sister - he had been planning the book for a long time but was unable to write or publish it during the former premier's tenure, which he claimed was an era where "nobody can be open or frank."

Musa tightlipped

Despite that, the book launch today at the Royal Selangor Club, Bukit Kiara remained relatively free from criticism of Mahathir or the current administration.

The book concentrates on the two leaders, giving less prominence to Malaysia's third prime minister, Hussein Onn.

When asked, Ahmad Mustapha said that he has never worked for Hussein and thus, cannot adequately comment about his personality or leadership style.

When pursued by members of the press, Musa, a privileged insider of the previous governments, remained tightlipped from commenting on the subject matter of the book.

The former chair of the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) also refused to comment on the allegation of human rights violations at the recent Bersih protest .

"I am out of politics. I am not making comments on political matters. I am just launching a book as a friend." he said.

Mahathir was impatient

Malaysiakini has been running a series of interview with Ahmad Mustapha in the run-up to the launch of the book today.

Yesterday Ahmad Mustapha, who also served as general manager in national news agency Bernama , spoke about the different administration styles undertaken by Mahathir and Abdul Razak.

He said that Mahathir was impatient and aloof and had dismantled the structure and pattern put in place by his predecessors.

"There were checks and balances (in the system) during (second prime minister) Tun Abdul Razak's time but come Mahathir, all of these were discarded. He was very impatient," he said.

Today , the first-time author spoke about his role in opening the doors to Mahathir's room for two prominent business tycoons.

Related reports

Ex-aide: Dr M impatient and aloof

Tell-all author: Betrayed by two tycoons

Click here to buy "The Unmaking of Malaysia" on Kinibooks now