Mahathir fights corruption

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed's hold on the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) remains as firm as ever following last week's party congress.

With a tearful plea to members to reject corrupt leaders just before last Thursday's crucial ballot for the party's three vice- presidents, who will form the next echelon of leaders, 71-year- old Mahathir turned the tide to help his allies.

Most notable among those elected was the prime minister's strong supporter, foreign minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who ousted youth and sports minister Muhyiddin Yasin to become one of the three Umno vice presidents. Two other incumbents, education minister Najib Tun Razak and Selangor state chief minister Muhammad Taib, retained their posts.

In political terms, last week's UMNO congress was significant because it brought in a new generation of Malay leaders, who are now ready to take over the helm of the party's leadership.

More importantly, the issue of money politics and vote buying were acknowledged and addressed by Mahathir. If left unchecked, it would have been a cancerous growth eating into the roots of Malaysia's oldest political party -- relegating Malay politics to the level now prevalent in Thailand.

Two leading players, Rahim Thamby Chik -- the Umno youth wing leader -- and Rafidah Aziz, the party's women's division leader and international trade and industry minister, were unseated by candidates associated with Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's camp. That in itself could be a message to certain party hardliners that a change in Umno leadership is imminent.

Analysts have pointed out that Mahathir could be losing his influence within the party to Anwar. The ousting of Tahim and Rafidah can be seen as a protest vote, but in the overall picture Mahathir is still very much in charge.

The difference this time around was that the prime minister seemed detached from the candidates, unlike previous elections where he did not hesitate to throw his weight behind certain UMNO individuals in exchange for undying loyalty.

The big question now is what does the future hold for Rafidah, after being at the helm of the party's women's wing for the past 12 years?

The next UMNO congress is due in 1999, before Malaysia enters the next millennium. It will be a very important one for the country for all eyes will be on Anwar, the man who is tipped to succeed Mahathir.

Whether the premier is willing to step down and retire as an elder statesman is another question. Mahathir has indicated that he is willing to stay on, saying he is still "young" compared with China's Deng Xiaoping.

In the meantime pundits will be guessing amid Anwar's growing impatience.

-- The Nation, Bangkok