Step down while still popular, Mahathir advises veteran leaders

comments     Tony Thien     Published     Updated

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad has a message for long-serving politicians — do not wait until you become unpopular before standing down.

He did not refer to anyone in particular during the opening of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) Convention in Kuching today.

However, PBB president and Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and embattled Sarawak National Party (Snap) president James Wong Kim Min were present at the event.

Taib, 64, who entered politics in the early 1960s, has been chief minister for 21 years, since taking over from his uncle Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub in 1981.

Wong, 80, has led Snap since 1981. Between 1963 and 2001, he served as a member of the state cabinet, with short breaks in the late 1960s and 1970s. A large number of Snap elected representatives and members are now clamouring for him to step down as party president.

'Be grateful to predecessors'

Dr Mahathir, on a one-day working visit to Sarawak, prefaced his speech by saying that present-day leaders should be grateful to their predecessors.

In his case, he said he was grateful to predecessors like Onn Jafaar, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Hussein Onn.

He described what each of them had contributed to Malaysia before he took over from Tun Hussein Onn in 1981 as prime minister.

Dr Mahathir said the Petronas Twin Towers had helped put Malaysia on the world map, when the country had been virtually unknown.

"We can afford to build it (the Twin Towers). Petronas, although not considered an oil power, is not very far behind others as it has operations in 33 countries," he said.

He described the Twin Towers as a monument that stands for Malaysia's success as a nation. However, he rejected any idea of a statue being built to honour him..

In his speech, he also said titles and money were not important to him as a leader.

"There are many civil servants who earn more than I do, but they are all under me as I have the power as prime minister. I get satisfaction in seeing the results of what has been decided and done."

The prime minister reiterated that Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was the most suitable person to take over from him.

"He has always been supporting me and I think it is only right that I should support and endorse him (as my successor)."

A system in place

Dr Mahathir said he felt comfortable in leaving the country in the hands of his successor as there was already in place a system of administration well adapted to running the country.

Before important decisions are made, for example, the Cabinet always discusses and debates the issues involved. A post-Cabinet meeting follows, at which the decisions are relayed down the line so every official knows exactly what has been decided and what needs to be done in implementation.

The prime minister reiterated the need for a strong government saying that, without one, it would be difficult to drive progress and develop the country.

No post-retirement job

At a press conference later, Dr Mahathir disclosed that he would take a complete rest after stepping down as prime minister in October next year and that he would not be taking up any government or foreign-based appointment.

This was in response to speculation that he would either become a Senior Minister like Singapore's former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew or chairman of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).

Responding to a question on the on-going leadership crisis, Dr Mahathir said he believed that party leaders would be able to resolve the problem among themselves.

Asked if the Snap president had met him to discuss the matter, he said Wong had been seated in front of him during the opening of the PBB Convention.

"No, we did not talk about politics", he said.

Taib's mishap

During the press conference, a Kuala Lumpur-based journalist asked Taib whether the question of resignation had ever crossed his mind.

He replied that he would only make the announcement when the time comes. With that, he got up to leave and in the process his chair toppled over.



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