Arch-foes united in condemning Abdullah

Spare a thought for Malaysia prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He took over the unenviable task of leading the nation from Mahathir Mohamad and now has come under fire from his predecessor over his style of governance. Mahathir has been vocal in saying that Abdullah is inept to lead and that he is susceptible to cronyism and nepotism.

When Abdullah took over, he was labeled as Mr Nice Guy who is sensitive to the needs of the country and will lead it to ultimate modernisation, coupled with an adequate respect for the rules of law and human rights.

He won the 2004 general election with a massive landslide, something which he and his backers claimed was the mark of the overwhelming support given by the people for his style of leadership. The victory was the biggest and the most popular for a leader in Malaysia.

Now, that colossal victory is being put under a microscope after claims that the government was involved in electoral fraud in obtaining that win. Suddenly, it is not just Abdullah’s leadership which is being question, but also the legality of his premiership.

Strangely two foes – Mahathir and Anwar Ibrahim – seem to be the one with the knives to deepen Abdullah’s woes.

Anwar claims that he has evidence of electoral fraud in the 2004 elections and that the election was neither fair nor free. He said dead people and phantom voters were rampantly used. And he added that Abdullah’s government has ordered a media gag on his findings.

Anwar said:

“I will present solid evidence to disclose the manipulation, lies and weaknesses that tarnishes the integrity of Malaysia elections.”

Again, the use of the media is also something which Mahathir was complaining about. He said his comments and criticisms were not accurately reported in the government-controlled media.

Mahathir vows to continue speaking out against Abdullah from within the ruling party Umno, especially during the party’s meeting in November while Anwar says he will expose the government’s excessiveness, corruption and electoral fraud at his party’s (Keadilan) annual meeting in September.

Given that, the next two, three months are going to be a major headache for Abdullah. Can he stay strong or are we in for a leadership change in the country?