Why should Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad wait till after the Organisation of Islamic Conference or OIC meeting to step down?

If he is serious about handing over power to somebody else — be it deputy premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or someone else — then why should he want the limelight of the OIC meeting?

The OIC meeting in fact would be a good opportunity to introduce the new prime minister to an important international body which holds memberships from every Islamic/ Muslim country in the world.

I would think the 16-month transitional period (one could even get married and have a child!) is time enough to do a 'mega-propaganda' for Mahathir.

Meanwhile the government can also propose to create the post of a senior minister just like in Singapore — so Mahathir will still have an influence over the country.

Anything can happen during these months. Who knows there will be a smear campaign against Abdullah and then Mahathir will announce he is just not a good enough candidate to take over his office. He did that to Anwar, didn't he?

So until and unless Malaysians change their feudal mentality, we will remain in this pathetic situation lamenting the loss of a leader.