KUALA LUMPUR: Saying he will leave but without spelling out when, beleaguered Malaysian premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hopes to buy time from fractious critics in a move that could prolong political uncertainties.
Abdullah’s recent transition plan is seen as an attempt to silence calls from ruling party and opposition leaders pressing for a swift handover to his deputy Najib Razak.
The premier said on Friday he had worked out when to hand over to Najib, although no date has been set. On Sunday, Abdullah said he would run for the party presidency in year-end elections, indicating that any transition would only occur after that.Some analysts say Abdullah could yet cling to power for years, despite expectations that a poor poll showing in March and a recent hike in fuel prices could topple his government.
“It could be just to appease his critics within the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party, especially (former premier) Mahathir, who are demanding that he resign,” said Lee Hock Guan, senior fellow with Singapore’s Institute of South East Asian Studies.
“He has to retain his legacy. For him to step down before redeeming himself by calling a general election and faring better than the recent election, it would look pretty bad for him.”
Under Abdullah, the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition recorded its worst parliamentary showing and ceded five states to the opposition in the March poll, just four years after securing a record majority.
The dismal showing has led to calls from some UMNO leaders for Abdullah to step down, opening up a rift in the party and creating uncertainties that have spooked investors.
Abdullah’s popularity has plummeted in the last few years, no thanks to simmering racial and religious tensions, the rising cost of living and two steep fuel price hikes since 2006.
The latest round of increase in fuel prices this month have sparked limited street protests, with the government attempting to cushion the impact with various measures such as increasing the number of price controlled items.
Rising prices threaten to push Malaysia’s average inflation to a 10-year high of 4.2 per cent in 2008 but they haven’t hurt the broader economy as yet. Economic growth is officially expected at a healthy 5 per cent this year.Abdullah also won UMNO’s endorsement as party leader at an emergency meeting last month after former premier Mahathir Mohamad quit the party in an attempt to force Abdullah out.
MONKEY OFF HIS BACK: Silencing his critics, if only briefly, Abdullah could now find the much-needed clout to push through promised reforms such as reducing civil service corruption and improving public service delivery to shore up his popularity.
“Politically, it takes the pressure off him,” said analyst Khoo Kay Peng. “The monkey is off his back and he is allowed to focus on doing what he wants to do.”
Since voters delivered their stinging verdict in the March election, Abdullah has pursued earlier promised political reforms with renewed vigour, taking steps to reform the judiciary and anti-corruption agency and reviewing some large state projects which critics say only benefit tycoons with close government links.
But lingering uncertainties as to the timing of Abdullah’s departure, coupled with the opposition’s threats to seize power, could continue to worry investors.
“It’s not going to end the political uncertainties,” said James Chin, professor of politics at Monash University in Malaysia.
“For the opposition, they hope Abdullah will stay forever until the next election so that they can wipe them out.”
The opposition, a loose coalition led by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, is wooing disgruntled ruling coalition lawmakers and claims to have enough supporters to form a new government by September.
For some, Abdullah’s handover announcement has sowed more uncertainty.
“By not stating the timeframe, he’s not really helping the party or Barisan Nasional at this point in time,” said political analyst Chandra Muzaffar.
“It is important for Abdullah to state the timeframe, otherwise it will make impression that Abdullah wants to stay on and on.”—Reuters
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