Over and over again, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has proven that he is someone who bites hard on scenarios.

First, it was the International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz when Tun Mahathir slammed the Government for its auto import policy, which he has said benefited a select group of well-linked businessman.

Then, it was the Government decision to scrap the construction of new bridge that infuriated Mahathir to go as far as chiding the Government of showing too much of respect to the Singapore. It’s also worth mentioning that, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz came out to the defence of government not for once, but twice, refuting Tun Mahathir by saying that he has said too much.

However, being a small fry he is, Tun Mahathir didn’t not response to him, but continued to voice his dissatisfaction towards the present administration. The latest is when he was interviewed by Malaysiakini.

But today, Tun Mahathir upped his stake against the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, accusing him of reversing many of his decisions, of betraying his trust and coming close to stabbing him in the back.

"Having chosen him as my successor, I expect a reasonable degree of gratefulness," Mahathir told reporters.

"I’m in the habit of choosing the wrong people," Mahathir said, adding that in his lifetime, he has helped many people, "only for them to stab me in the back."

Asked if Abdullah has stabbed him in the back, Mahathir replied: "Minor bruises."

However, Mahathir wouldn’t openly say whether he regretted choosing Abdullah to succeed him instead of current Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, whom Mahathir claimed had obtained more votes in the Cabinet to
inherit the leadership.

"One cannot tell what a person would do when the person is out of your control. I thought I had made the right choice," Mahathir said.

He said he wasn’t campaigning within the ruling United Malays National Organization to unseat Abdullah.

"I’m not capable of doing that," Mahathir said. "I cannot have him removed. I’m not going around campaigning to people…(but) I would be failing in my duty as an ordinary citizen, as ex-PM, if I did not direct my attention" to issues affecting national interests."

Coincidentally, Asia Times Online’s Mageswary Ramakrishnan wrote about the tussle between Pak Lah and Tun Mahathir, saying that Mahathir has aired his complaints and grievances at a time Abdullah’s popularity is clearly on the wane.

Let us think about confidence deficiency, if this phrase makes sense to you.

But before that, something is running in my mind: It’s ain’t over till it’s over.

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