Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today called on Malaysians to remain focused on developing the country and not to be distracted by the current political polemics.

The premier said he would devote his full attention to fulfilling the trust given to him by the people in the 2004 general election to develop the country and achieve the goals of Vision 2020.

"We don't have much time and it would be a loss if that time is not used fully to bring success," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

"My primary responsibility, apart from to Allah, is to the people who support me," he added at a gathering with members of the Senators Club in Kuala Lumpur.

Abdullah, who took over the reins in 2003 from Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has been coming under a slew of criticisms from his predecessor.

Referring to the mandate given by the people, the premier said the government would focus on closing the economic divide between people in the rural and urban areas, eradicate poverty and rejuvenate the agricultural sector.

Free to probe

Meanwhile, Mahathir yesterday said the authorities were free to investigate how his children had accumulated their wealth.

"Go and investigate (my children). Of course, my children were billionaires during my time," he said sarcastically.

According to a Sun report, the former premier insisted he had never helped his children in their business dealings when he was in power.

Reporters had quizzed Mahathir about the wealth of his children after he had again questioned the business interests of Abdullah's son, Kamaluddin.

Responding to another question, Mahathir also criticised Abdullah's interview on TV3 earlier this week.

"He (Abdullah) never answered any questions. All he was saying was that I am a good man, I wouldn't do this, my children are good people and they wouldn't do this, I am a very religious man, I wouldn't do this. But specific answers, there were none."

"Certainly to say his son has no business in Malaysia is wrong. His son has got business worth more than one billion (ringgit)," he said.

No intervention

In another development, Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday that Abdullahdid not intervene in the election of his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin as Umno Youth deputy chief in 2004.

Hishammuddin said Abdullah did not intervene after he had asked the party president not to do so.

Hishammuddin, who is education minister, was asked about Khairy's statement recently that he was prepared to step down from the Umno Youth post if he was considered a liability to the movement.

He said "this is not something strange" but a principle for leaders of the party to resign voluntarily if they had become a burden or undermined party credibility.

He said he agreed with Khairy's move in going to the divisions of the movement to provide an explanation to the allegations hurled against him.

Umno Youth had given room to Khairy to do so and he had given sufficient explanation, and it is now up to the members to analyse the explanation.

"For those who do not want to listen, it will not bring much of a difference. Therefore, why expend much time to provide an explanation to them?" he said.

Asked whether former prime minister was seen as a threat to the Barisan Nasional in the next general election, Hishammuddin said he did not think so.