The Star Online said that Dr Mahathir was ‘satisfied’ with his meeting with the PM, but obviously Mahathir was ‘satisfied’ only insofar as he was able to tell AAB directly what he thought was wrong with his successor’s policies, governing and certain personalities.
Dr Mahathir has since demonstrated that he wasn’t going to quieten down. He averred: "I will continue until there is some change, until I achieve some results."
And he warned that the AAB government's economic performance has undermined support for the ruling party to the extent that it could hurt UMNO's chances at the next elections
In fact Dr Mahathir went as far as to cast doubts on AAB’s prospect as a second term PM aspirant, saying: "It depends on how he performs. I was there to tell him what I'm not happy with. I was not going to suggest what he should do. But it is up to him to decide what to do."
There was only elegant silence from AAB after the meeting.
Mahathir pooh-poohed away allegations that his attacks are harming UMNO, saying AAB's mismanagement was responsible for the damage.
He criticised AAB’s economic management saying: "For the past three years, there has been no move, the economy has not been doing well. People have not been able to get jobs, and unemployment is still high. Nothing has been done really to improve the economy."
"UMNO cannot win elections without public support and today the public is very critical of the present conditions of the present economy, the present system of administration, the involvement of his family members."
That was a Wing Chun sun-fist jab at both the world’s most famous SIL and son.
However, Mahathir assured party diehards that the opposition has no chance of winning at the next elections by 2009, though it’s most likely they would reduce the government's majority.
In their talks, Mahathir said AAB cited a survey that found the popularity of both men had been damaged by the row which has raged for most of this year.
Mahathir said: "I told him that I don't care if I am popular or unpopular. But if anybody does anything that is damaging to the country and to the Malays in particular, I am going to come out and criticise."
I wonder why Dr Mahathir didn't say the above in spades like "WTF do I care two sh*ts." It would sound more colourful - that's the problem with Malaysian politicians, too dull and colourless!
He then added what must be the wistful wish of some in UMNO: "Of course, I'm 82 years old. People believe that if they delay long enough this interfering nosey-parker will disappear and will not be able to speak.”
What! And make us miss our daily excitement and fun hearing the two camps screw each other?
Says the guy who was responsible for Operasi Lallang and the sacking of five (count 'em and weep, hombres) honest judges.....to the guy who had released a group of suspected terrorists from ISA and also, despite the follies of Khir Toyol and his UMNO associates for the past few months, have 'permitted' the press to report freely on it. Quite a change from the past, wouldn't you all agree?
ReplyDeleteIts kinda like Mao Tse-Tung accusing Nikita Khrushchev of being a Capitalist Revisionist.
The shows will go on, hehehe.
ReplyDeleteMahathir said: "I told him that I don't care if I am popular or unpopular. But if anybody does anything that is damaging to the country and to the Malays in particular, I am going to come out and criticise."
ReplyDeleteI wonder why Dr Mahathir didn't say the above in spades like "WTF do I care two sh*ts." It would sound more colourful - that's the problem with Malaysian politicians, too dull and colourless!
Mr KTemoc, in the paragraphs above you wrote that Malaysian politicians are too dull and colourless. I think your observation is spot on there, though I suspect many of these politicos, when they think no one is watching, are likely to act in ways more unbridled and licentious than a troupe of monkeys. The way some of them behave in Parliament suggests it.
You wondered why the Tun didn't come right out and said: "What the fuck do I care two shits." Hmm ... yeah, that's sort of refreshing if he had expressed himself thus! Mmmm, perhaps you may like to suggest that he goes farther - like, standing up and unzipping his pants and pulling it out, and shaking it in the faces of the assembled and greatly startled press corps and their cameras, and saying: "Here's to the world. Nyah, nyah, nyah." Well, now that would be really kewl and like "Wow", wouldn't it?!