Press TV, Tehran, Iran Reports

Mahathir blames Abdullah for election loss  Sun, 09 Mar 2008 11:20:34

Ex-Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad Ex-Malaysian premier says his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has 'destroyed' the ruling coalition after disastrous weekend elections.  Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who led the ruling United National Malays Organization (UMNO) which helms the Barisan Nasional coalition (BN) for 22 years before stepping down in 2003, lashed out at the worst-ever electoral performance by the ruling coalition.  "In my view, Abdullah has destroyed UMNO, destroyed the BN and he has been responsible for this," Mahathir told reporters Sunday.  He also suggested that Abdullah resign, and said he had made a mistake in selecting him as prime minister.  Mahathir has previously said he never intended for Abdullah to serve more than one term, and that he should have opted instead for influential deputy prime minister Najib Razak who is now leader-in-waiting.  The Barisan Nasional suffered its worst ever result in Saturday's polls with opposition Islamic and reformist groups winning control of five states.  Abdullah's multi-racial national front coalition won just a simple majority in parliament, and his future as leader is in doubt after he saw a record parliamentary majority from the last election in 2004 collapse to the weakest level ever.  Abdullah was Mahathir's hand-picked successor when he stepped down, but after the new leader dumped several of his pet projects, Mahathir began launching accusations of economic mismanagement, nepotism and corruption.  HE/BGH