Ghafar backs Pak Lah as leader, but unsure of support from others
A former deputy prime minister said while he was confident of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's leadership as the new premier when Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigns in October 2003, he was uncertain whether other Umno members would feel the same way.
Abdul Ghafar Baba (BN-Batu Berendam), who made an appearance in Parliament today after an absence of several weeks due to health reasons, said that the party had wanted Mahathir to stay on as prime minister despite his decision to quit.
"It is Umno who wanted him to stay. That's why there is a compromise. But he cannot stay on for years so he gave a time frame for the rakyat [people] to accept his resignation," Ghafar told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
Asked whether this is a sign that Umno members are not confident of Abdullah's leadership, Ghafar said, "I am merely one [Umno] member out of the three million members. I am confident but others, I do not know."
Mahathir announced that he was relinquishing all party and government posts at the Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday.
After the shock announcement, the party's supreme council said on Tuesday that Mahathir would quit after the Organisation of Islamic Conference meeting in October next year.
The 15-month duration is meant to serve as a transition period for Abdullah to take over as the new premier.
Mahathir should go on
Ghafar added that it was not unusual in politics for a leader to come and go, although Malaysia has had only four prime ministers during its 47 years of independence.
He said during this period other countries had changed their leaders time and again, and many of these political changes involved bloodshed, demonstrations and civil war.
"In Malaysia, we change our leaders systematically, peacefully and without bloodshed," said the veteran politician.
However, Ghafar is of the opinion that Mahathir should hold on to the helm until the country's economic situation is fully recovered.
Nevertheless, he said anyone can lead the country if the rakyat is united and supports the leadership.
"As long as the leader is willing to be criticised, accepts the people's viewpoint and is supported by the people, he can definitely lead the country," he said.
Ghafar was appointed deputy prime minister by Mahathir in 1986 following Musa Hitam's resignation.
He was forced to relinquish his deputy post in 1993 after a strong challenge mounted by Anwar Ibrahim, who was in turn sacked by Mahathir five years later.
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