Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has failed to perform his duties in the absence of the Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, an opposition leader said today.

According to PAS chief Fadzil Mohd Noor, Badawi's disastrous handling of several hot issues in the past week had given rise to public concern over the actual capability of the Prime Minister's heir apparent.

Mahathir, accompanied by his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali, is currently on a two-week vacation in Argentina and the Carribean Islands. He is scheduled to return home on Feb 3 after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland from Jan 27 to Feb 1.

According to Fadzil, the recent wave of arrests of opposition members plus the "undiplomatic reaction against comments by foreign leaders and organisations on these arrests" had worked to undermine Badawi's capability as the next prime minister. He urged the Deputy Prime Minister to resign from his post upon Mahathir's return.

The arrests of KeADILan vice-president Marina Yusoff, youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor, lawyer Karpal Singh, Harakah editor Zulkifli Sulong and printer Chia Lim Thye have drawn local and international condemnations.

Criticisms by human rights NGO Amnesty International and Bangkok-based journalists group Southeast Asian Press Alliance over the arrests were taken as foreign meddling in the country's internal politics. The mainstream media reported on Monday that Abdullah had warned United States to stay out of Malaysia's internal affairs.

Fadzil said Abdullah's inability to control politicking within Umno prior to the party elections in May was prove of his inability to keep things in check. "He is unable to control the behaviour of Umno leaders who are creating political instability in their quest for party positions."

In addition, Abdullah is also accused of making politically-incorrect statements to the aghast of opposition political leaders. Citing an example, Fadzil said that Abdullah had made misplaced comments on the Terengganu PAS government's recent decisions on low-cost housing ceiling prices and the sacking of some civil servants.

New Straits Times

had reported yesterday that Abdullah described these actions as "arbitrary decisions of the state government without due regard to the sufferings and problems of the people".

Terengganu Mentri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang however said that the sacking of certain civil servants was "a routine exercise". Moreover, the price hike in low-cost houses from RM25,000 to RM28,000 is well within the Housing Ministry's ceiling price of RM33,000.

According to Fadzil, among other Abdullah's derelictions of duty in his first week in charge without Mahathir include his failure to hold the weekly Cabinet meeting and his inability to clarify the apparent conflicting statements between the Health and Agriculture Ministers on the issue of safety of imported fruits which has caused public confusion and concern.

"Before things become worst, stepping down can be the most honourable thing for Abdullah to do," Fadzil said.