Screenshots

Next to P. Gunasegaram, we have two other Malaysians, writing in the Singapore press, who say Dr Mahathir has lost his plot.

S Jayasankaran, a former Dow Jones correspondent who now writes for Singapore Business Times, says in his story titled: Unseating Abdullah: history not on Dr M's side

Still, Dr Mahathir's road show appears timed to culminate in Umno's annual general assembly slated for November.

While these meetings are generally tightly controlled - with both speakers and resolutions cleared beforehand by Kuala Lumpur - some analysts are expecting Dr Mahathir to spring a surprise.

The most talked about possibility: that the former premier will appear as a delegate, will receive a standing ovation and thereby send a clear message to the leadership that he is still a formidable force to be reckoned with.

That could set the stage for a leadership tussle next year when party polls are scheduled for every position from the president down.[...]

Even so, and for all Dr Mahathir's fulminations, there is no channel for Mr Abdullah's removal. A vote of no-confidence in either the Parliament or Umno's Supreme Council, the party's highest policy making body, is possible but highly unlikely, analysts said.

You may read the full text in BeritaMalaysia mailing list.

H'ng Hung Yong, former editor-in-chief of The Star (during Lee San Choon's time) and former editor-in-chief of theSun (just before Tong Kooi Ong took over management control to make it a free paper), writes for Singapore Straits Times, titled: Don't underestimate Abdullah:

Tun Dr Mahathir clearly is not going to desist from his chosen course of action in the face of these criticisms. He will go around the country to make his case. The question is: Is his going to be a debate about power or about ideas?

The government is taking the position that the difference between the former leader and his successor has to do with policy, not politics.[...]

The Abdullah administration's ability to respond effectively to Tun Dr Mahathir's criticisms should not be underestimated. The Prime Minister himself has earned much respect from the way he has handled the criticisms. His Cabinet is with him, as are state Umno leaders.

Meanwhile, it is business as usual for Datuk Seri Abdullah. He continues to pursue his own agenda. Over the past week, he has focused on rolling out the Ninth Malaysia Plan and attending to matters of state.

He also moved quickly and decisively to defuse debate over a number of racial and religious issues that threatened to get out of control. And he publicly scolded a chief minister for allowing the continuing desecration of
coral reefs in Sabah.

All hardly the actions of a leader who is not confident of his own position.

You may read the full text in BeritaMalaysia mailing list.

And of course the party won't be complete if Leslie Lopez, who now writes for Singapore Straits Times, didn't show up.

Perhaps, Malay journalists will write differently about our country if their stories appeared under Singapore Press Holdings' titles.