Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's shocking resignation announcement followed a series of 'god-sent' episodes which allowed him to reinforce his premiership, said an academic.

Universiti Malaya's Prof Dr KS Jomo said among these episodes was the nation's strong financial recovery in 1999 and 2000, which seemed to vindicate Mahathir's economic policies.

Other episodes which worked in favour of the 76-year-old premier were the rise of Islamic militancy such as the Al-Ma'unah and the Sept 11 terror attacks on the United States.

These incidents, Jomo said, permitted Mahathir to strengthen and reinvent himself as a moderate Muslim leader.

"With PAS trying to retrieve waning Muslim support by feeling obliged to out-do Mahathir's own Islamic posturing, and DAP impatient to claim the secular high ground for itself at the expense of the painstakingly crafted compromises underlying the opposition alliance, the Barisan Alternatif was in trouble, providing Mahathir with yet another god-sent (episode).

"I have no idea if Mahathir was really going to announce an exit plan at the end of his winding-up speech (at the Umno annual meet), or how it differed from the current transition scenario, but with the benefit of hindsight, his timing seems to make good sense, especially in the light of these 'god-sent' (episodes)," he said during a recent interview with malaysiakini .

On June 22, a tearing Mahathir told the nation that he was going to resign during his winding-up speech at the Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur which was telecast live.

However, after 'much persuasion', the premier retracted his decision and agreed to a 15-month transition process for his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to take over.

Mahathir's resignation raised questions about his influence in the party and the government during the transition period and many doubt the resignation will take place as planned.

Malaysians are also looking for clues as to who will be the new second-in-command but Mahathir has hinted that Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak is the most qualified.

Anwar remained loyal

Although surprised by the resignation announcement, Jomo believed that the premier was as sincere as he was when he made his earlier offers to retire.

"According to former finance minister Daim Zainuddin at a recent Umno general assembly, when Mahathir wanted to quit in 1995 and 1997, (jailed ex-deputy premier) Anwar Ibrahim recruited him (Daim) to persuade Mahathir to stay on.

"That is why I do not believe Anwar was plotting in 1997-98 to usurp Mahathir. Anwar's weakness, if you will, was not being able to check and deter those urging him to take us out of this darkness as someone not from his camp encouraged him to," Jomo said.

The economist added that the premier, who has been in office for 21 years, must have known from reliable informants that despite policy and other differences, Anwar remained loyal.

He suggested that the drama that unfolded in neighbouring Indonesia in 1998 which saw the ouster of president Suharto must have disturbed Mahathir and even clouded his judgement.

"After all, Mahathir and Suharto were together in Cairo only the week before. And as (former deputy prime minister) Musa Hitam and the premier himself have reminded us, Mahathir has long been unsettled by how the South Koreans sentenced two former presidents to death," he said.

Anwar, the premier's third deputy during his 21-year reign, was expected to ascend the nation's political throne without any hindrance.

However, the relationship between the top two leaders soured in 1998 and Anwar was sacked on the ground of immorality. He was subsequently charged for sodomy and corruption.

The former deputy premier, who is serving a 15-year jail term, has claimed that the charges were fabricated and that he was a victim of a political conspiracy authored by Mahathir.

This charge has been denied by the premier.

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