KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13: Former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamed is out to topple his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as fears grow over divisions in the ruling party, reports said on Sunday.
Influential cabinet minister Nazri Abdul Aziz, citing information he had gleaned from Mahathir’s conversations with friends, said the ex-premier was working to unseat Abdullah, also president of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
“If he continues his actions to destroy UMNO, to bring down the president, I will be at the forefront as a warrior to defend the party,” Nazri was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times.
Nearly 200 UMNO divisions are currently holding their annual meetings nationwide and the dispute between the two has featured high on the agenda.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak on Sunday insisted there were no serious party rifts and that no one could easily overthrow Abdullah, who last week went on national television to deny Mahathir’s claims of corruption and nepotism.
“His position is not easily threatened by anyone,” Najib was quoted as saying by the state Bernama news agency.
“Many assumptions can be made but what is important is that all quarters give their full and unequivocal support for Abdullah as UMNO president and prime minister,” he said.
The row has led to worries amongst UMNO members of growing strife within the party, and concerns that opposition parties will capitalise on the bitter public dispute.
UMNO’s secretary-general Mohamad Radzi Sheikh Ahmad over the weekend warned the quarrel could affect the outcome of the next general election due by 2009.
“We will not be able to face the election confidently if our leadership is not stable. I pray (Mahathir and Abdullah) will find a way to resolve this issue,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
US PRODUCTS BOYCOTTED: Groups in Malaysia launched a boycott on Sunday of US drinks Coca-Cola and Starbucks coffee to protest Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Lebanon and Gaza.
Malaysians for Peace, the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) and the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association said they would encourage thousands of members to join the boycott of the American products.
The United States has been strongly condemned by Arab states and some European nations for failing to press stronger on ally Israel to end its bloody campaign in Lebanon.
Jamarulkhan Kadir, president of the restaurant owners association, said the group had 4,000 members who would be advised to stop serving Coca-Cola in their restaurants or serve it as a last option.
“We think only by inflicting something on (US) economic activities, we could make them realise what they’re doing is wrong,” he told AFP.
Jamarulkhan said a similar three-month boycott against the soft drink to protest the 2003 US invasion of Iraq had made a “dent” in sales.—AFP
