After two international TV interviews and six months of verbal exchanges, Umno is breathing a sigh of relief that Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi are willing to meet face to face, said former deputy premier Musa Hitam.

However, Musa, who had coined the term "elegant silence" in describing Pak Lah's quiet repose despite scathing attacks by the former premier, was mum today over whether the government is prepared to make any concessions to Mahathir's demands.

"I am not even going to begin to speculate as to how and why," he told reporters when queried as to the sudden change of heart by Mahathir, who had said he would stick his heel in and go all the way to "expose corruption within the Abdullah administration".

Musa, who was deputy prime minister from 1981 to 1986 and closely linked to Abdullah, said he does not know if Mahathir has any tricks up his sleeves.

"I don't think I am in a position to make speculations about concessions or this and that. If you start speculating, you get into trouble.

"I am a strong believer in dialogue and meetings to sort things out, to talk out the issues," he told reporters after launching the World Islamic Economic Forum website with Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Has majority support

In a CNN interview aired last Saturday, Abdullah said he was not committing 'political suicide' by reversing some of the government policies from Mahathir's tenure in office.

"I have decided to keep quiet and go on doing what I want to do. People want me to do what I want to do, and I still command majority support today," the premier said, adding that he still shared Mahathir's 2020 vision.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Bloomberg last Monday, Mahathir however continued to openly question Abdullah's administration, and had even dropped former arch-rival Tengku Razaleigh's name as a possible contender for the Umno presidency.

"Yes, there is Najib. And Tengku Razaleigh, who has always been interested."

The ex-finance minister had mounted a challenge to Mahathir in 1987, and lost by a mere 43 votes causing a split in the party leading it to be declared illegal. Musa was in Razaleigh's camp back then.

Musa resigned from office in 1986, citing irreconcilable differences with Mahathir. Musa is also the former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam). Now 72, he sits on the board of several companies and is chairperson of plantation group Kumpulan Guthrie and Lion Industries.

Musa described the forthcoming meeting between Pak Lah and Mahathir as 'long overdue".

"I think it's very appropriate that this be done in the month of Ramadan, it's time to bermuafakat (work together)".

Duduk, borak borak

Friends can always sit down and talk, even over nothing, in a relaxed manner, Musa said, adding that there is no harm for leaders to sit down for empty talk.

"Whether in government or elsewhere, (people) should always sit down and talk over nothing. What do I mean? Duduk borak borak . Like they say in Indonesia, omong omong kosong . If leaders practice this, I think there will be less misunderstandings. You'd be surprised how many issues arise out of nothing".

Musa also felt that it would be most ideal if the forthcoming meeting be a four-eye one between Pak Lah and Mahathir.

"It's best if there are only two of them, person to person. If there are other people there is a tendency of being conscious. Both sides don't want bad things to happen. We have to be careful of speculations by outsiders. The psychological impact of a meeting alone is great enough," he added.

The meeting is expected before Hari Raya which falls on next Tuesday. No agenda has been set.

In a Bernama report last night, Mahathir said he would voice his grievances to the Pak Lah, but did not indicate exactly what would be said.

"Let's wait. Who knows, I might be afraid to talk about it then," he said, drawing laughter from reporters present.

He has reportedly asked a two-day notice be given for the meeting.