Malaysian daily, in rare outburst, slams PM party - Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Malaysian newspaper controlled by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's party launched a rare attack on party leaders on Wednesday, branding them as boors and greedy following its worst election showing.

"Enough is enough," the New Straits Times newspaper said in its front-paged editorial that also subtly ticked off former premier Mahathir Mohamad for seeking Abdullah's resignation.

Abdullah, whose United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party heads the governing coalition, should be allowed to carry on as prime minister and party leader, the daily said.

"But all the worms crawling out of the UMNO woodwork -- especially the retired and those with shelf lives past due who have found new breath in their calls for a party coup -- won't let him," it said.

For the first time in 40 years, the opposition denied the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition a two-thirds parliamentary majority and seized control of five of the country's 13 states.

Abdullah has insisted he would not step down and but would seek re-election as UMNO chief at party polls in December.

[More at http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-33067720080416]