Badawi good for the region: Analysts

Badawi good for the region: Analysts

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Malaysia's new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is expected
to infuse new blood to the region in general and to bilateral
relations between Indonesia and Malaysia, analysts say.

Bantarto Bandoro of the Centre of Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) said over the weekend that the soft temper Badawi
would benefit the region.

"Badawi is more moderate and prudent in dealing with many
issues among ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asia Nations) member
countries and that will be a good thing for the regional
grouping," Bantarto told The Jakarta Post.

"Also in handling many bilateral issues with Indonesia, he may
take different and approach softer than his predecessor Mahathir
Mohamad did," he added.

Another analyst CPF Luhulima, however, warned that there would
be no major changes in Malaysia's policies.

Badawi, according to Luhulima, would merely conduct a
different style of leadership.

"He will be more pleasant for the international community,
there will be no more sharp-tongued remarks, but he will be as
stern as Mahathir in dealing with many issues," Luhulima told the
Post.

The analyst said that with the resignation of Mahathir, the
region had lost the last charismatic leader and these new blood
would be seen more as an administrators.

"Badawi will bring changes to Malaysia, maybe not as fast as
Mahathir expects but according to the principles that the senior
statesman has outlined," Luhulima added.

Bantarto concurred with Luhulima, saying that Badawi, 63,
would follow Mahathir's lead.

"I think he will have a different approach in implementing the
policies," he said.

After 22 years of leading Malaysia into one of Asia's economic
powerhouse, Mahathir left the prime minister's office on Friday
in favor of Badawi, his deputy since 1999.

He was the last among his peers that stepped down as
Indonesia's former president Soeharto was forced to resign in
1998 and Singapore's former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew stepped
down in 1990.

Badawi is seen as a more low-profile figure in the region and
his maneuver has been under the shadow of Mahathir's vigorous
leadership.

He once served as Malaysia's foreign affairs minister before
appointed as deputy prime minister in 1999 to replace Anwar
Ibrahim, who was tried and put in jail for alleged misconduct.

With Badawi taking over the post, ASEAN member countries are
led by younger generation. Although, many doubt that these "young
blood" will be as prominent as their predecessors, but they
surely promise a make over in the region.

On Friday, President Megawati Soekarnoputri sent a
congratulation letter to Badawi, conveying hopes that his
administration would further boost friendship between the two
neighboring countries.

"And I am sure that with the new leadership, the (bilateral)
ties will be maintained and strengthened, not just for the sake
of the people of the two countries, but also for more prosperous
and secure Southeast Asia region," Megawati said.