Mahathir denies Razaleigch talks

Mahathir denies Razaleigch talks

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
has denied rumors of conciliatory talks with a splinter party led
by an arch-rival, but said the opposition group was free to
rejoin his ruling party, a report said yesterday.

"Those are still rumors. There is no truth in it," Mahathir
was quoted saying in the New Straits Times daily when asked if he
had met with Semangat 46 president Razaleigh Hamzah.

But Razaleigh, a former trade minister in Mahathir's cabinet
who tried to wrest control of the ruling United Malays National
Organization (UMNO) in 1987, would have to make the first move,
the prime minister said.

"We do not need to put out the red carpet," Mahathir told
reporters, adding: "He can think for himself."

Razaleigh's Semangat 46, a party of former UMNO members, has
ruled Malaysia's sole opposition Kelantan state with the
fundamentalist Parti Islam since 1990, but cracks have begun to
show in the partnership.

Although Razaleigh insists ties with the Parti Islam are still
firm, his aides have complained of a lack of consultation in
state religious rulings and indicated that a split might be
imminent.

Razaleigh himself said earlier this month he was willing to
work with all parties for the sake of ethnic Malay unity.

"We are just a small party ... the big man (UMNO) should make
the move," he told reporters.

But Mahathir, who has several times tried to bring Semangat 46
back into the UMNO fold, was this time more reticent.

"Those who subscribe to the (UMNO) principles can join the
party and need not be invited," he said.