Screenshots

Malaysiakini Chinese Edition complained that NSTP deputy Chairman cum editorial adviser Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan's personal attack on Dr Mahathir Mohamad and A. Kadir Jasin, which is available on pages 6 and 7 in the print version today, is not published online.

As a matter of fact, the article has been available online at this URL since this morning.

However, the URL has been taken down from the news index (National/Local section) on the NST website (ask the online chief Zainul Arifin why) and thus, the URL to the story, which was still live at blog time, becomes oblivious on the Internet.

Screenshots has a PDF version for download.

'Mahathir won't quit Umno, but ready to be sacked'

UPDATES: Dr Mahathir today said he won't leave Umno on his own accord.

"The party doesn’t belong to Nazri. It belongs to all Malays. Nazri has no right to ask this or that person to leave. I was in Umno before he was born," declared Mahathir, according to Malaysiakini, in an apparent rebuttal to his former junior minister who asked him to be a 'jantan'-man and leave Umno.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir, the co-target of the NSTP deputy chairman's personal attacks disguised as commentary in the NST today, told Associated Press today that he expected to be expelled from Umno. Quote:

"I know there is this process of demonizing me" in the ruling United Malays National Organization party, Mahathir told reporters.

"I think they will take action to expel me...they are building up toward it," he said. [...]

Mahathir said "many people" have urged him to keep up the criticism because they are dissatisfied with Abdullah's policies but who dare not object openly.

But even if he is expelled, Mahathir warned, "it is not going to stop me from criticizing."

Minister of Information Zainuddin Maidin also admitted that it is tough to get Mahathir to back off as the former Prime Minister has "made up his mind" and believes in what he is doing in criticising the Abdullah administration.

We'll see if Husam Musa, who earlier said Mahathir was poised for sacking, will be vindicated.

I will say it's going to be a long haul for Abdullah and Mahathir. locked in a political quagmire. Either one will fall ultimately if there's no divine intervention of sort.