Mahathir to keep his word: Analysts

Mahathir to keep his word: Analysts

By Barani Krishnaan

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is criss-
crossing Malaysia dangling promises the opposition claims are
only meant to win votes in upcoming polls, but analysts say the
economy is strong enough for him to deliver the goods.

With voting for the ninth general elections six days away,
Mahathir has been visiting up to two of Malaysia's 13 states in a
day, making promises ranging from the building of a university to
creating the world's biggest financial center.

Opposition parties scoff at the pledges but analysts believe
the 70-year-old premier, who is widely credited with transforming
Malaysia into an industrial dynamo from an agricultural backwater
in his 14-year rule, could deliver on most of the promises.

"There are certain things he can do and certain things he
can't, but most are within his reach," said Chandra Muzaffar, a
political analyst who has monitored Mahathir and the country's
progress for over two decades.

Spearheaded by a booming manufacturing sector and strong
investment inflow, the economy has been growing robustly under
Mahathir's rule, averaging eight percent a year since 1987.

Growth is projected at 8.9 percent this year, up from 8.7
percent last year.

Mahathir has pledged to set up a university in the
northeastern Kelantan state, where chances of his National Front
wresting power from the fundamentalist Parti Islam (PAS) are nil,
according to political pundits.

"If we return to power, we will make sure that Kelantan is at
the forefront of development," Mahathir promised at a rally in
the sole opposition-led state, where he also announced plans to
build more industries and infrastructure.

On Tuesday, Mahathir said he would strive to turn the Labuan
island, still a fledgling offshore financial center off the
eastern Sabah state, into the biggest monetary center of its kind
in the world.

Mahathir reasoned this was possible with the anticipated
exodus of financial institutions from Hong Kong after its return
to Chinese rule in 1997.

In its election manifesto last week, the National Front
promised to improve development throughout Malaysia and enhance
industrialization, financial management and quality of life,
while preserving peace and religious freedom.

The party pledged to maintain an average economic growth of
seven percent for the next 25 years, double per capita income
every 10 years to 16,000 dollars by 2020, and reduce taxes and
government fees.

"Our pledges are reasonable unlike the opposition, who make
all sorts of promises," Mahathir said.

Opposition politicians, however, said Mahathir was just
harping on the economic boom to entice voters while using
draconian laws to suppress democracy.

"Malaysia's progress is not purely a result of the National
Front. It is because we are situated in a rapidly developing
region," said Razaleigh Hamzah, a former minister and now
political foe. He is the president of the opposition Parti
Semangat Melayu 46.

Lim Kit Siang, secretary-general of Malaysia's largest
opposition, the Democratic Action Party (DAP), charged the
country was now "less democratic" than before independence in
1957 owing to laws which suppress information and provide for
detention without trial.

As though to lend credence to Lim, Mahathir warned Wednesday
the government would not hesitate to arrest him if he went
against the law while campaigning in the polls.

Mahathir has also told voters in northern Penang, a wealthy
state and strong base for the DAP, that they could not expect the
same cosy ties with the National Front if they voted his party
out.

"If you decide to change your government and have a different
form of government, everything will come to a stop. Penang will
be finished," Mahathir said.