Malaysia's PM pledges openness - BBC News

By Jonathan Kent
BBC, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia's new prime minister has signalled his support for a more open and tolerant style of government.

In his first speech to parliament as the country's new leader, Abdullah Badawi committed himself to strengthening Malaysia's democratic culture and its checks and balances on power which critics say his predecessor undermined.

What had been expected from Abdullah Badawi was a bland tribute to the former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Though Mr Abdullah called his predecessor a hero, he appeared to distance himself from Dr Mahathir's style of government.

Mr Abdullah affirmed his commitment to democracy, declaring that he wishes to see it thrive in Malaysia.

While he said the government would not tolerate terrorism or those seeking to incite race or religious hatred, he said it should be open to critical and contrary ideas.

He went further, speaking of the importance of checks and balances and promised to respect the separation of powers between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

[More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3236275.stm]

Mahathir bows out as Malaysia's PM - CNN

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (CNN) -- An era has ended in Malaysia with the formal departure from office of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad after 22 years in power.

Mahathir's deputy and carefully groomed successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was formally sworn in at a somber ceremony Friday afternoon at the royal palace in Kuala Lumpur.

Ending his last day in power Mahathir, known to millions simply as Dr M, clocked out of office for the last time from the new Putrajaya administrative capital -- one of many so-called mega projects that he personally oversaw.

Abdullah, who becomes Malaysia's fifth prime minister since independence in 1957, signed the instruments of office in the presence of Malaysia's King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin.

Wearing traditional Malay dress Abdullah pledged to "fulfill the obligations of this position honestly and with all my energy."

[More at http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/10/31/mahathir.retire/index.html]

Mahathir sets date to step down - CNN

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Asia's longest-serving democratically-elected leader, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, will stand down on October 31.

Mahathir's weekend comments to reporters in Monaco marked the first time he had put a specific date on his resignation after 22 years in power.

Mahathir, 77, announced his retirement last year but agreed to a transition period that would have him hand over power to his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, after Malaysia hosts a summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference next month.

"I may be healthy, but I have been prime minister too long," Mahathir told Malaysian students Saturday during a visit to Monaco. "It's time to move on and pass the job to someone else," The Associated Press quoted him as saying.

Asked by reporters whether he has set a definite retirement date, Mahathir said: "It will be on the last day of October."

Mahathir added he would not change his mind. "If I do, my credibility will be gone," he was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times newspaper.

[More at http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/09/29/malaysia.mahathir/index.html]

Malaysia brings English back into classroom - The Daily Telegraph

By Jonathan Kent in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia put the language of its old colonial master back into the heart of its education system yesterday, almost 30 years after expelling it.

For decades, schools for the country's different communities have taught in Malay, Chinese or Tamil, but now all maths and science classes will be in English.

Mahathir Mohamad, the Malaysian prime minister, who frequently rails against Western "imperialism", was behind the U-turn. As education minister he pushed through the switch to Malay in the 1970s, but now says: "We have to accept English whether we like it or not."

The new education policy is a response to economic realities and the fact that the quality of English, which dominates business, has deteriorated over the decades.

"Malay Muslims don't have the same fluency in the English language and are therefore shut out of jobs in the private sector," said Karim Raslam, a commentator.

[From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/1418169/Malaysia-brings-English-back-into-classroom.html]