A hero's welcome, and grilling, planned for Mahathir

comments     Lawrence Bartlett     Published     Updated

Malaysians are planning a hero's welcome and a grilling for prodigal Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad when he returns tomorrow from a European holiday after stunning the nation with his resignation.

The last time the veteran leader appeared in public he was in tears amid astonishing scenes at his ruling party congress, where he was mobbed before he could finish a declaration of his intent to quit his political posts.

Within hours, and without another word to the people he has led for 21 years, he flew off to Italy for a 10-day break, leaving senior party officials scrambling to explain his behaviour and come up with plans for a transition of power.

Three days after he left, on Tuesday last week, they announced that Mahathir would retire in October 2003 and hand over power to Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Now his party, the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), says some 10,000 members are expected to gather at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base outside the capital Kuala Lumpur to welcome him home at 7.30am tomorrow.

Along with the party faithful will be massed ranks of reporters waiting to hear him explain, in his own words, his past behaviour and his plans for the future.

The leader of the opposition Democratic Action Party, Lim Kit Siang, said Malaysians were keen to know what exactly Mahathir had intended to say before being stopped by emotional supporters, and the reasons for his sudden announcement.

Songs and poetry

But first, according to a spokesman for the organisers, Omar Matan, there will be songs and poetry for the man who has dominated daily life here since the early days of Ronald Reagan's presidency in the United States.

A chorus will sing a newly-composed song "Khalifah Kita" (Our Leader), which will be followed by a reading of patriotic poetry and the showing of a video compilation featuring local performers.

"We are not doing this to persuade him to stay on," Omar told the Malay Mail . "But we want to voice the people's appreciation for everything he has done and to let him know we respect and support his decision."

The business community and politicians of all stripes, however, will be keen to hear exactly how Malaysia will be run during the 16-month transition period.

Since 1981, government here has been close to a one-man show, with Mahathir's stamp of approval vital to everthing from the running of the economy to cleanliness in public toilets.

Abdullah has dismissed opposition claims that there will now be two prime ministers. One senior party source told AFP that fears Mahathir would be rendered ineffectual were groundless.

"The term 'lame duck' and Mahathir just don't go together," he said.

Second finance minister

However, other sources within Umno say Mahathir, who also holds the key finance portfolio, is likely to appoint a 'second' finance minister as he winds down his day to day role in the nation's affairs.

He is also due to take two months leave at some stage before he finally quits, presumably to give Abdullah a feel for running the country by himself.

The local stock market has steadied after falling amid the early confusion over Mahathir's plans, and Abdullah said this week that the market response had been "very encouraging".

"I am very happy. It just proves that what the prime minister had in mind to ensure a smooth transition has been accepted well," Abdullah told reporters.

That claim will be put to a further test on July 18, when Umno faces by-elections for state and national assembly seats which fell vacant with the recent death of the main opposition leader, Fadzil Noor, head of the hardline Parti Islam SeMalaysia. AFP



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