Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has defended his performance as the country's leader, insisting he is committed to reforms promised when he came into office.

Abdullah is involved in a bitter spat with his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has accused the leader of betrayal, nepotism and unwise policy decisions.

But Abdullah, countering the accusations, denied he had lost control of the country and said his critics had to accept that he had his own way of doing things, Bernama news agency reported.

"There are still many people who don't understand ... Everybody has his way of doing things," he was quoted as saying from Cuba, where he was attending a Non-Aligned Movement summit.

"The objectives are still the same, there is no change, but the way is my way," he said, without referring directly to the row with Mahathir, which has shaken the ruling Umno.

Careful planning needed

Abdullah took over from Mahathir in October 2003 and won a landslide election in March 2004 after pledging to tackle corruption, improve governance and implement economic reforms.

Once seen as the "Mr Clean" of Malaysian politics, Abdullah last month went on national television to refute Mahathir's allegations he was giving his son business favours, and that his son-in-law was unduly influencing him.

He has also been criticised for the slow pace of his reforms in the nearly three years he has been in power.

But Abdullah said the results of reforms were not immediate, and that cabinet and Umno had to be consulted, and studies done, Bernama said.

"It's not that I've totally forgotten or don't care at all about reforms but reforms must be introduced after careful planning and study and results cannot be expected overnight," he said.

"I would prefer it is alright we are a bit late, provided we have looked into all the relevant aspects to analyse an issue."