PRESENT POINT POWER

Insert Umno veteran Tun Khalil Yaakob the mediator between PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad?

Left: Datuk Zainuddin doing the groundwork for the mediation effort. Right Deputy Prenier Najib commented on Sunday that he was unaware of such plans.

The Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Najib when contacted on Sunday said he was unaware of the plans and would be gathering further information.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today he would obtain details from Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin on a plan to have a mediator to help resolve the differences between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said he had had no knowledge of such a plan.

"I will get the information from Datuk Zainuddin," he said after launching the Umno Malaysia Bowling Tournament for the Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Trophy at the ARL Bowl in Alamanda here organised by the party's Youth and Sports Bureau.

Zainuddin said Saturday that he had met Dr Mahathir on Friday and the former prime minister agreed to meet a mediator to clear the air on his relationship with the country's leadership.

Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin met the former Primer at his residence on Friday night before going to Turkey and Greece for vacation. Datuk Zainuddin also met PM Abdullah before he went overseas to Perth for a holiday and medical treatment for sinus.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has agreed to meet the mediator to clear the air on his relationship with the present leadership of the country. He said that Dr Mahathir gave his nod for the meeting.
"I told Dr Mahathir it is difficult for (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to meet him privately because Tun has shown his unhappiness with the prime minister," he said.

Zainuddin said he told Dr Mahathir that it was vital for the mediator to meet Tun first in efforts to patch up his differences with Abdullah.

This initiative to resolve the differences was in the sprint and wishes of the grassroots members who were worried over the current development. This initiative was welcomed by most Malaysians. Datuk Hishamuddin said the suggestion mooted by the Datuk Zainudding was a step in the right direction.

He stressed that UMNO leaders are not unduly concern about the current tension. Looking at the bright side he mentioned that the issue had highlighted the wholehearted support of the leadership and people for Datuk Abdullah. He said it would be better if the air can be clear once and for all and hoped the two men would accept the suggestion and turn their focus to the Umno agenda that was set years ago by party founder Datuk Onn Jaafar. “Many people feel it is a great loss to the party if the situation continues.

Even the opposition came out in support. DAP deputy national chairman Karpal Singh feels that the matter has gone on long enough.

"The public exposure of what has happened is not in the public’s interest. Both sides should not proceed in openly making accusations against each other.

"The time has come for both sides to lay down arms before this gets out of hand," he said yesterday. Karpal said he felt it was wrong for both Dr Mahathir and the Cabinet
Ministers who were rebutting his allegations to continue doing so in
public.

Speculation was rife as to the choice of the mediator. Names surface were Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen, the current Umno disciplinary board chairman, ormer finance minister and Umno treasurer Tun Daim Zainuddin and Tun Musa Hitam,. But the Sunday STAR in an exclusive front page named the outsider Umno veteran Tun Khalil Yaakob, the current Yang di-Pertua Negri of Malacca as the “peacemaker”

Meanwhile Umno Vice-President Datuk Seri Mohamed Ali Rustam said Saturday efforts to reconcile the differences between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should be done discreetly and away from the media glare.

He said the efforts to clear the air do not need media publicity so as to avert any inaccurate reporting.

"I wish to see the problem settled amicably. It is better if no publicity was given to it," he told reporters after the launch of World Health Day celebrations by Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakub, here.

Read the Sunday Star's story’s below:-

Malacca governor to play peacemaker

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno veteran Tun Khalil Yaakob is expected to be the mediator to end the bitter spat between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Yang di-Pertua Negri of Malacca is said to have agreed to take on the job to mend fences between the two leaders.

Khalil, 68, a former Pahang mentri besar and Umno secretary-general, is said to be the best person to take up the task.

His resume includes being Information Minister (1999-2004), Education Minister (1982-1984) and Barisan Nasional secretary-general (1999-2004).

Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin had suggested on Friday that an Umno veteran could mediate to heal the rift between Abdullah and Dr Mahathir.

He had met the two and both had agreed to a third person to mediate.

Zainuddin, however, declined to name the mediator but said the veteran was “loved by Dr Mahathir and respected by Abdullah”.

He said he met Dr Mahathir at his residence on Friday night, as a follow-up to an earlier meeting a few days ago, to hear what the former prime minister had to say. Dr Mahathir is scheduled to leave for Turkey and Greece today.

Yesterday, Zainuddin told Sunday Star that Dr Mahathir was receptive to the idea of a third person, adding that a mediator was the best option.

Zainuddin had also met Abdullah before the Prime Minister flew off toPerth for a holiday with his family. He is due to return on July 14.

He said Abdullah was also receptive to the idea and had agreed to the person that he (Zainuddin) suggested, adding that he had also met the potential mediator.

Zainuddin said Malaysians of all races, in general, wanted the current political standoff to end.

“It is not just Umno members who want to see the two end their dispute but all Malaysians who are concerned about the political situation.

“They want to see government leaders focus their attention on the economy and not on political matters.”

Zainuddin said initiatives to resolve the differences between the former and present prime ministers were in line with the spirit and wishes of Umno grassroots who were worried over the current development.

Several Umno leaders and divisions have also urged the Umno supreme council to resolve the differences between the two quickly and amicably without any group taking advantage to worsen the situation.

It is understood that the idea of picking a mediator would be the first step to getting the two to patch up.

“After the harsh words by Dr Mahathir, including saying that Pak Lah was not his first-choice successor, a four-eyed meeting at this stage would not be possible,” said one Umno veteran involved in the peace process.

“A mediator would be the best option, given the circumstances, to pave the way for the two to meet.”

Meanwhile Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is on a “secret mission” to Australia. See the report from Agenda

Anwar pun ke Australia

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim macam terkejut dan kemudiannya tersenyum bila ada seorang wartawan asing yang bertanya betulkah beliau akan ke Australia.Beliau secara berjenaka bertanya balik mana wartawan itu tahu.Bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri itu kemudiannya mengesahkan beliau akan ke Australia esok(Jumaat).Soalan itu dipercayai untuk ‘memancing’ sesuatu.Jawapan itu mungkin tidak ada nilai berita pada waktu lain.Ini tidak lain kerana Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sedang bercuti di Australia sekarang.Kata Anwar hal itu telah lama dirancang kerana menghadiri satu seminar di sana.Lebih 30 orang wartawan tempatan dan asing meliputi sidang akhbar di rumahnya di Bukit Damansara pagi Khamis.Mereka termasuk seorang yang terbang dari Singapura khusus meliputinya dan terus terbang balik selepas ia selesai.Tumpuan sidang akhbar itu ialah mengenai isu Dr Mahathir - Pak Lah. 30/6/2006

The speculation is that the two will meet in Australia and Pak Lah will offer anwar (when they meet) to rejoin UMNO and the no 2 post. This will affect Najib`s position/future.

But Anwar has always been quoted as saying that he is committed to the reform of his party and that he would not return to UMNO, but would work towards making Keadilan a credible 3rd alternative to UMNO and PAS .This is all the more relevant now with the problems in UMNO and PAS. Anwar must now seize the initiative to come up and slowly work towards achieving its objectives. With his track record in UMNO and the ouster of Ghafar Baba despite public asurances make people understandably skeptical and can't trust Anwar.

Now read Mahguru58’s imagination running wild with the following scenario. As they say in politics, no one is a permanent enemy or friend. Circumstances and situations can change in a split second.

Agenda Daily exposed today that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is flying off to Australia today!

I guess all Malaysians know who's holidaying 'Down Under' with the entire family. Could this turn of events bring about a reunification of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with our nation's beleagured Prime Minister who is facing a barrage of questions from Tun Dr.Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's former Premier who is now a 'thorn' on both their sides?

A really spectacular out of the blue scenario for those who relish such drama taking shape in our nation's political theatre!

Wow! Najib must really be losing sleep tonight and it's not gonna be because of the World Cup soccer live telecasts, you bet!

It's just amazing... that's life for you folks! High up above and almost there ; then suddenly all hell broke loose and DSAI was smashed into the slammer!

DSAI is today facing the dilemna of the uncertainty of his career's pinnacle or am I jumping the gun here?

Let's all open up that pack of menglembu nuts and see the show!

Que sera sera...whatever will be ..will be ....

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INTERVIEW with RADIO AUSTRALIA
Are Malaysians going to see something fruitful coming out of this eventual meeting between Pak Lah and the only other man who has the calibre to assist Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi salvage his leadership from going down under as the shortest premiership of them all or be up and above with their banners flying high and in all its glory?

MALAYSIA: Anwar Ibrahim weighs in on Mahathir criticism
Interviewer: Linda LoPresti
For the first time in a decade, it appears Malaysia has a feisty and effective opposition - in the form of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. Over the past two months, the 80-year-old statesman has mounted a stinging attack on the government and his hand chosen successor, Abdullah Badawi. And that may well play into the hands of another opposition force about to be unleashed, Dr Mahathir's long time foe, former deputy leader Anwar Ibrahim.

IBRAHIM: Some of their concerns are valid of course, but most of it relates to his personal views on the project that were dear to him and which the present administration considers not a priority, so I think we must respect his right to express his views.

LOPRESTI: Well, it may be valid, but do you believe it's helpful to the government to have someone constantly criticise their policies, because I guess in a way, it has goaded the government into action. It has to constantly defend its decisions.

IBRAHIM: Well, I don't know about the government, but I think for the country it is useful, because there has never been a democratic space under Mahathir. The system was of course very dictatorial. There's no access to free media. So now that he has done it probably it will generate better raport and discussions in the public, so the government must respond to these criticisms. But I of course contend that Prime Minister Abdullah has the right to ignore some of the personal swipes against him. But when it comes to specific, substantial criticisms, he will have to respond.

LOPRESTI: But will it be difficult for Abdullah Badawi to rule? Will he need a fresh mandate if the problems with Doctor Mahathir persist?

IBRAHIM: Well, I think his mandate was adequate. I don't think it is a question of fresh mandate, because Doctor Mahathir does not represent the party, except to hear some of his very personal views and his personal concern.

LOPRESTI: Is it helpful though to have someone who does constantly take a personal swipe and he has done that to you? I mean he has described you as a wayward person, someone whose unqualified to hold political post, a man with criminal inclination, a danger to society. Is it helpful to have someone who is constantly making those kind of personal swipes against other significant prominent people in Malaysia?

IBRAHIM: Well, notwithstanding my personal views against him, as a citizen as a former prime minister, he has every right to express his views and I think Abdullah would have the support and legitimacy to respond accordingly. But also to look and critically evaluate or assess the administration of Doctor Mahathir on his political repression and the corruption and cronyism and whether these projects actually serve national interest or serve the interest of the cronies. That's why I encourage this space and this dialogue.

LOPRESTI: So do you feel you have an ally now in Doctor Mahathir, because perhaps he's creating a climate in which perhaps elections will be called sooner rather than later?

IBHRAHIM: I don't consider him an ally.

LOPRESTI: As an adviser to the PKR Party, the party of your wife, Wan Azizah?

IBRAHIM: Yeah, I don't think the PKR would have anything to do with him, the general electorate of course will accept him. People are now aware how is this man who has muzzled the media, banned newspapers, regularly threatened them, suddenly talks about free media. How is a person who has been very responsible in destroying the institutions of civil society, institutions of the governors and dependers of judiciary suddenly talk about governance.

LOPRESTI: Well the next election is not due now until 2009. You'll be free to stand by then. Will you?

IBRAHIM: Yes, of course I will exercise my democratic right.

LOPRESTI: So perhaps Doctor Mahathir will have a new potent opposition force to deal with by then?

IBRAHIM: Well, it's a bit premature, but then we'll have to deal with it.