DR M'S A NATIONAL HERO, SAYS PAK LAH

For the first time in a long time, the PM has paid Dr M a tribute. He calls the former PM a national hero last night.

It has to be a massive U-turn in the Abdullah Administration's approach in handling the lop-sided spat with the former prime minister. Two Mondays ago, the PM appeared on TV3 and showed to us viewers that he was capable of not being nice in the face of criticisms, even if the one who has been criticising him was Dr M. A few days ago, he showed he could play rough, too, as he made references to the Iblis or the demon when he spoke of people who had been hurling those harsh criticisms at him.

Abdullah Pays Tribute To Past Statesmen For Success Of Malaysia

KUALA TERENGGANU, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has become a developed, prosperous and dynamic country because of the ideas, good leadership and determined efforts of past statesmen including Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The Prime Minister said the success and development achieved began from the leadership of the first premier, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, and followed by the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and the late Tun Hussein Onn and was continued by Dr Mahathir.
"These leaders are national heroes and we are indebted to them for what they have done," he said in his speech to launch the national level Merdeka Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang Campaign at Dataran Shah Bandar here Friday night.

It must be noted, however, that Abdullah did not utter these words himself. The text of speech was read by Rais Yatim, who is chairman of the 49th Merdeka celebration national committee.