KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 - The so-called rapprochement between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi could be stillborn after the former prime minister continued biting criticism against his successor.
This time, Dr Mahathir took his criticism to an international audience, using the platform of the BBC to say that "everthing went rotten" after Abdullah became prime minister.
He also lashed out at Khairy Jamaluddin and Kamal Abdullah, the son of the PM saying that both men decided on policies during the Abdullah era.
"Everything went wrong when Abdullah took over...", he said.Despite being asked several times, if some of the problems in Umno and Malaysia was the result of mistakes which he made during 22 years as the PM, Dr Mahathir refused to acknowledged any shortcomings.
Finally, he relented, saying that his mistake was picking Abdullah as his successor.
He said that in 22 years in office, Barisan Nasional always won two-thirds control in Parliament.
Amazingly, Dr Mahathir also appeared to take some credit for BN's historic mandate in 2004, noting that the general elections had come just after he stepped down as prime minister.
This claim in in direct contrast to several surveys and observations by BN leaders and political pundits which showed that the Abdullah factor and excitement over his reform agenda gave the ruling coalition 90 per cent control of Parliament.
Disappointment over his failure to keep his election promises and excesses by Umno led to BN's dismal performance in 2008 and to Abdullah early retirement.
Dr Mahathir has been attacking Abdullah since 2005, upset that his legacy was being undermined by Abdullah and peeved that his counsel was not sought by his successor.
On Saturday, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pulled off a coup of sorts by getting Dr Mahathir to share the same stage as Abdullah at the close of the party assembly.
He said he hoped that both men would sit down with him and offer ideas of how to rebuild Umno and Malaysia.
But it looks like Dr Mahathir is not ready to bury the hatchet.
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