Mahathir denies Razaleigch talks<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
\nhas denied rumors of conciliatory talks with a splinter party led
\nby an arch-rival, but said the opposition group was free to
\nrejoin his ruling party, a report said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Those are still rumors. There is no truth in it,\" Mahathir
\nwas quoted saying in the New Straits Times daily when asked if he
\nhad met with Semangat 46 president Razaleigh Hamzah.<\/p>\n
But Razaleigh, a former trade minister in Mahathir's cabinet
\nwho tried to wrest control of the ruling United Malays National
\nOrganization (UMNO) in 1987, would have to make the first move,
\nthe prime minister said.<\/p>\n
\"We do not need to put out the red carpet,\" Mahathir told
\nreporters, adding: \"He can think for himself.\"<\/p>\n
Razaleigh's Semangat 46, a party of former UMNO members, has
\nruled Malaysia's sole opposition Kelantan state with the
\nfundamentalist Parti Islam since 1990, but cracks have begun to
\nshow in the partnership.<\/p>\n
Although Razaleigh insists ties with the Parti Islam are still
\nfirm, his aides have complained of a lack of consultation in
\nstate religious rulings and indicated that a split might be
\nimminent.<\/p>\n
Razaleigh himself said earlier this month he was willing to
\nwork with all parties for the sake of ethnic Malay unity.<\/p>\n
\"We are just a small party ... the big man (UMNO) should make
\nthe move,\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
But Mahathir, who has several times tried to bring Semangat 46
\nback into the UMNO fold, was this time more reticent.<\/p>\n
\"Those who subscribe to the (UMNO) principles can join the
\nparty and need not be invited,\" he said.<\/p>",
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