Musa: DrM undergoing post-prime ministerial syndrome

Musa Hitam was a former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia

Tun Musa Hitam, who stepped down as deputy prime minister in February 1986 following differences of opinion with former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, knows very well the outspoken style of his former boss.

To him, Mahathir’s recent open criticism of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is not only improper, but does not augur well for the party and nation.

For all the elder statesman’s remarks, Musa said in jest that Mahathir was undergoing a post prime ministerial syndrome, which caused the former premier to think that "only he is right." According to Musa, he had also experienced a similar syndrome but hemanaged to check himself. "I just told myself to shut up. I told myself ... look give up, withdraw. You cannot go on doing this. Let the others take over. They can do. They may or may not be doing as well as I want to do but they are now in place.

"They have been given the full support, the full support of the party, of the rakyat. I suggest stop interfering with them," he said.

In a 75-minute interview with national news agency Bernama in his Bukit Tunku residence here, Musa said he decided to speak up because he did not want the situation to get out of hand.

"All I can say now is that ... Dr Mahathir just stop it. Enough is enough. Don’t do anything. If he continues (with his remarks), no one will gain. Only Mahathir will be satisfied, but those who are against us will benefit," he said in an interview with Bernama news editor Mohd Fisol Jaafar and Bernama senior journalist Jamaluddin Mohamad.

Musa also said if there had been a promise between Mahathir and Abdullah before, it should not be binding but what was important was Abdullah’s promise to the people who had given their mandate

to the prime minister.

Below is the full text of the interview with Musa:

http://www.thesundaily.my/node/173757