Malaysian Premier Denies Mahathir’s Nepotism Claims

Aug. 8 (Bloomberg) — Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi denied allegations his family benefited from government contracts and defended his style of governing, in a televised response to criticism from predecessor Mahathir Mohamad.

 

“My children are not involved in any companies or concessions given by the government,” Abdullah, 66, said in an interview with state news agency Bernama, which was shown on national television. “They do their own business.”

 

Abdullah was responding publicly for the first time to Mahathir’s claims that he’s weak and has harmed the country by scrapping state projects, accusations that have undermined support for the premier in Malaysia’s ruling party. Mahathir, who stepped down in 2003 after 22 years as prime minister, in June said Abdullah wasn’t his first choice for a successor.

 

“I opted to remain silent as I didn’t want to argue” with Mahathir, Abdullah said in the interview, broadcast late yesterday. He said his ministers had already responded to Mahathir’s criticism of policy decisions.

 

Mahathir, 80, in June said the government’s failures included scrapping construction of a bridge to Singapore, the abuse of permits given to car importers and the sale of a motorcycle unit by national carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd., for which the former premier acts as an adviser.

 

Mahathir’s accusations have raised concerns of a split within the ruling United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO, which leads the National Front coalition that has governed Malaysia since 1957.

 

Mahathir’s Response

Mahathir today said his critique isn’t a sign of a power tussle within UMNO or a personal quarrel with Abdullah, but about projects and policies implemented by the government, Bernama reported.

 

The differences can’t be resolved by merely a handshake or saying “let’s forget and forgive,” the report cited Mahathir as saying.

 

Abdullah also said his style of governing contrasted with Mahathir’s, and denied allegations he was weak and slow to implement key decisions such as those relating to infrastructure projects. “You have to wait for me to warm up,” he said yesterday. “I will do this my way.”

 

Abdullah said his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin wasn’t influential in his policy decisions, and denied claims family members such as Kamaluddin Abdullah, Abdullah’s son, abused their ties with him.

 

Khairy is the vice president of UMNO’s youth wing.

Kamaluddin, who controls oil and gas services company Scomi Group Bhd., chose to pursue opportunities overseas because the fact that his father was prime minister made doing business in Malaysia difficult, Abdullah said. About 80 percent of Kamaluddin’s business and contracts were overseas, he said.

 

Khairy and Kamaluddin have never sought government aid, he said.