Abdullah Says His Style Is Different From Mahathir

Abdullah Says His Style Is Different From Mahathir
By D.Arul Rajoo January 15, 2006 14:58 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he has different style of running the
country compared to his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"We're two different persons. We have our ways of doing things, of
what needs to be done and how things should be done. I am not
concerned about that. I have been given the biggest mandate ever
obtained by any Malaysian leader," Abdullah said in the column
'Global Viewpoint' in the Bangkok Post Sunday.

The premier said this when asked about his philosophy of leadership
by a group of foreign journalists attending a programme arranged by
the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Putrajaya
last month.

He, however, said the nation was moving forward to becoming a
developed country by 2020, the vision of Dr Mahathir, adding that his
government was a continuation of the previous administration.

Abdullah, who took office on Oct 31, 2003, said although his
government held a strong majority of more than 90 per cent, he had
allowed the backbenchers in parliament to come up with very tough
questions for members of the government.

"I told them that your role is to be constructive in your criticisms.
This is not only the role of the opposition," he added.

Abdullah said he wanted to be firm about many things.

"...not only about whether I am strong, or trying to be strong or
trying to be weak. Fairness and justice must be the strong reason for
why you want to do certain things, and they must be the objective for
anything to be implemented," he said.

The premier said his emphasis was on the development of human capital.

"You can give soldiers the best weapons, but if they do not know how
to shoot, then what is the use? Teachers who cannot discipline
children can never give a good education," he said.

Although many have said he was taking Malaysia back by several years
by returning to agriculture, Abdullah said the possibilities of
making agriculture a fully growth sector were there with the
introduction of biotechnology.

Asked about corruption, Abdullah said it must be curbed although it
was not an easy task as evidence and facts must be established before
a person can be prosecuted.

On the main economic challenges to Malaysia, Abdullah said it's the
competitiveness and the ability to compete for everything, including
the markets and the resources.

Although China has emerged as a competitor and many countries see it
as a threat, Abdullah said Malaysia regarded China as a friend and an
opportunity.

He said Malaysia had to find a niche for itself and something that
could do favourably vis-a-vis China and not the same being done by
the country, like going for production of low-cost industries using
low cost labour.

Speaking about Asean, Abdullah, who chaired the Asean Summit and the
inaugural East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur last month, said Malaysia
wanted to see it as a group and as a single unit that was very viable
to face the competition and position favourably vis-a-vis China and
India.

He said Asean was moving towards integration and had many positive
indicators like a population of 530 million, an area that is rich in
natural resources and human capital, and active world traders like
Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

-- BERNAMA