So who is in power in Malaysia?

Dr Mahathir is right you know. The Malaysian government should answer the questions the former premier has raised. After all they are valid questions and the longer PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reigns silence, the more the confusion and speculation will be abound.

Among the issues Dr M wants answers for are the long standing Approved Permit matter, the direction of Proton and the recent debacle involving the scrapping of the new Causeway bridge.

Mahathir has also been very critical over recent changes in the auto policy and has expressed unhappiness over decisions to scrap state projects initiated under his administration.

So far, Abdullah has tried to stay above the fray and has left his deputy, other ministers and senior officials within the ruling party to respond to Mahathir's criticisms.

He has said that it was within Mahathir’s right to criticise, adding that he will use government departments and ministries to answer Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir is not happy at all with these. He wants answers and he wants to hear them from Abdullah himself.

Now he has upped the ante, goading Abdullah to speak out and not rely on his ministers to do the task for him.

"Now I don't know who is in power. If you ask a question, he does not answer.
Others will answer.” – Mahathir

Mahathir also portrayed the cabinet as dancers and wondered aloud who was calling the tune.

"They are like a chorus line. They are all dancing. When one kicks, all will
kick. They are like the Rockettes." – Mahathir

And more damaging for Abdullah, Mahathir openly wondered if the PM was just a dummy who allows his advisers to hold more sway over policy.

I think as a citizen I am entitled to know the truth as well. So Pak Lah, stop dilly-dallying and come out in the open with the answers, just as you promised that your government will be clean and transparent.