Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's first deputy premier Musa Hitam has described his former boss as a tough act for anyone to follow, and advised his (Dr Mahathir's) successor to be himself.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should give up any attempt to emulate Dr Mahathir and just be himself, said Musa in an interview with Today newspaper of Singapore at his office in Kuala Lumpur today.