News On Malaysia - Mahathir may dec

[hag2@xxxxxxxxxxx]

>Mahathir may declare emergency out of revenge: veteran party member
>
>      KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (AFP) - Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad may 
>declare a state of emergency to
>      further discredit supporters of jailed former deputy premier Anwar 
>Ibrahim, a former veteran member of the ruling
>      party said Tuesday.
>
>      Marina Yusof, who served four terms in the party's supreme 
>policy-making council under both Mahathir and his
>      predecessor, told AFP that the 71-year-old premier was a 
>"revengeful person" -- as shown by Monday's arrest of the
>      party's youth chief who tried to humiliate him at a party congress 
>earlier this year.
>
>      Speaking in an interview at Anwar's house, Marina openly 
>speculated about Mahathir's next move following the order
>      to place Anwar and at least seven of his associates under 
>indefinite detention without trial since Sunday.
>
>      "I think Dr. Mahathir may declare an emergency. He wants to create 
>unrest and blame it on us," she said. "Then he will
>      become a complete dictator."
>
>      Marina has openly supported Anwar since she quit the United Malays 
>National Organisation (Umno) on September 4,
>      the same day as he was expelled following his ouster as deputy 
>prime minister and finance minister on September 2.
>
>      Hit by a multitide of allegations ranging from sexual impropriety 
>to sedition, Anwar said there was a high-level
>      conspiracy to destroy his politicial career.
>
>      He embarked a national tour and led tens of thousands in an 
>anti-Mahathir rally in the capital on Sunday immediately
>      before his arrest.
>
>      Marina, a 57-year-old lawyer, had earlier come to Anwar's defence, 
>threatening to expose the dirty linen of various
>      cabinet members if the sexual allegations continued.
>
>      She also refused to reject rumours Monday that Anwar would be 
>injected with the HIV virus while in detention. "To
>      me, nothing is impossible," she said.
>
>      During the interview, Marina said she supported calls by Anwar's 
>wife Aziza to keep up the fight for justice -- despite
>      the use by police of teargas and water cannon against supporters 
>of the former deputy prime minister.
>
>      "The situation now is tense but the reform movement must 
>continue," she said.
>
>      Asked about the level of cabinet support for Mahathir amid rumours 
>of resignations by some ministers, Marina said:
>      "All those who support him have got vested interests. But the 
>moment he loses power, they will run away."
>
>      In the meantime, she expects Mahathir's autocratic nature to 
>prevail.
>
>      "Under Mahathir, there can be no dissent," she told a news 
>conference at Anwar's house on Monday, recalling the
>      Umno split in 1987 when then deputy premier Tengku Razaleigh 
>challenged Mahathir for the top job.
>
>      "In 1987, I was the first to ask him to step down. I tell him 
>again, step down. The abuse of power is blatant," she said.
>
>      Turning to a group of largely young Anwar supporters at the house, 
>she advised that future protests would have to be
>      peaceful.
>
>      "Mahathir's tactic is to plant his people and create trouble. When 
>you all move, move in an orderly way," she said.
>
>      "You have to be careful. And think of the next move."
>
>      Marina served two consecutive two-year terms as Umno supreme 
>council member from 1972 to 1975 when Abdul
>      Razak was prime minister. She rejoined the council in 1981 when 
>Mahathir assumed power and served another
>      two-year term from 1983. 
>
>
>