Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has dragged his ex-deputy Musa Hitam into his ongoing spat with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

According to Mahathir, Abdullah's family wielded a greater influence over the premier than the cabinet and he had apparently learnt about this from Musa ( left ).

In a special interview with political tabloid Era Baru , Mahathir said Musa, who was his deputy from 1981-1986, told him this when the pair attended the King's birthday celebrations.

"I was seated next to Musa who said 'we give advice, he (Abdullah) asks his son and his son-in-law'. Musa said this to me. He (Abdullah) asks his son, then asks his minister but follows his son-in-law," he added.

While Abdullah has denied this, critics have gone to the extent of calling his 31-year-old son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin of being the country's de facto prime minister.

Meanwhile, Mahathir also said that things worked differently during his 22-year tenure.

"I don't know what kind of government there is now. Because the Umno supreme council is closed. During my time, I gave ample opportunity to all supreme council members to talk

"Even when Musa resigned, we met from 9pm to 4am. Each supreme council member was allowed at least two opportunities to speak, only then a decision was made.

"And the decision was not in my favour, it was more towards convincing Musa (not to resign). I did not stop this. This was the old way," he said.

'AP kings related to Khairy'

On the cancellation of the half-bridge project, Mahathir said it was strange that Umno supreme council members were not aware that Singapore did not object to it and that construction work had already begun.

"If they knew, then they should object (to the cancellation). But I don't know what is happening. The prime minister makes a statement, and the cabinet agrees. So there appears to be no debate.

"If he (Abdullah) says the people don't want the bridge. It's a lie! The people have never rejected it, I know. The Johor Sultan provided the land to make the project a success," he added.

As for the Approved Permit (AP) issue and the sale of Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta by Proton, he said these only profited certain individuals and not the nation.

"We tried to use Proton to provide an opportunity for the Malays to enter the car sales industry. Proton has many Malay agents. But when the APs were issued, it affected Proton's sale and boosted the sale of import cars.

"Proton suffered losses, but imported cars were declared at a low price and this allowed them to sell the cars cheaply and Proton could not compete," he added.

Mahathir also reiterated his question as to why two individuals were issued with more than 9,000 APs. He claimed that the duo were not selling cars, but rather the permits.

"He (Abdullah) knew about this, why is he still keeping the minister (Rafidah Aziz) who did this? I heard that those who got the thousands of APs are related to the prime minister's son-in-law," he said.

The former premier said there were attempts to muzzle him because of this as those involved were worried that Umno members would stop supporting the leadership if they found out about this.

"As an Umno member, we stand united but we must be united for the good (of the party). If we are united with those who commit wrongs, then we are just as guilty.

"He (Abdullah) does not want to listen to the explanations from others," Mahathir said, adding that blind loyalty was never an Umno culture.