Businessmen close to Abdullah quit

More expected to leave as Najib erects his own inner circle of power

KUALA LUMPUR: Two businessmen close to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi are quitting their positions, as an expected exodus of his inner circle begins.

The two men - New Straits Times Press (NSTP) deputy chairman Kalimullah Hassan (left) and Equine Capital chairman Patrick Lim - have been attacked in the past by former premier Mahathir Mohamad, for allegedly benefiting from Mr Abdullah's reign.

News of their resignations from their respective companies comes just days after Mr Abdullah's announcement that he intended to step down as Premier in March.

With Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak set to take over the premiership in five months' time, the circle around him is expected to rise, political observers and bloggers say.

Mr Kalimullah is also group executive chairman of ECM Libra Investment Bank, which has made headlines with major deals in the past few years.

But he is better known as the controversial editor-in-chief of the mainstream New Straits Times (NST) newspaper, and has been accused by Dr Mahathir of being a key 'spin doctor' for Mr Abdullah.

Dr Mahathir, who appointed MrAbdullah as his successor in 2003, has in recent years become his most bitter critic.

The former premier blames MrKalimullah for allegedly blacking out his comments not only in the NST, but also in other mainstream media.

In a column in the NST on Friday, Mr Kalimullah defended Mr Abdullah's short reign and harshly attacked critics such as Dr Mahathir.

'One thing Najib will not have to worry about is a predecessor breathing down his neck, slandering him, his Cabinet, his party colleagues, his family, aides and friends. Because, for all his weaknesses, Abdullah is a decent, religious man,' Mr Kalimullah said in the column.

He joined NSTP in 2003 as group editor-in-chief before relinquishing the position in 2006 to become deputy chairman.

He tendered his resignation from the board on Sept 3, and it will take effect from Dec 31, online media TheEdgeDaily.com reported on Thursday.

As for Mr Lim, his links with Mr Abdullah were thought to be so close that Dr Mahathir had cynically referred to the businessman as 'Patrick Badawi'.

His resignation was officially announced to the Malaysian stock exchange in a statement on Friday. Among projects linked to him is the multimillion-dollar Monsoon Cup sailing regatta held annually in Terengganu. The event has drawn criticism for its ostentatious show of wealth before poor coastal villagers.

Mr Lim was dealt a severe blow in August when a planned RM25 billion (S$10.5 billion) project in Penang was dropped. The Penang Global City Centre was nixed after opposition parties took over the state in the March general election.

There are widespread expectations that other top changes will occur soon in Umno-linked companies. These could include the Media Prima group, which controls the NST as well as several television networks, including TV3.

A former senior editor of a local daily told The Straits Times: 'They will leave because they know where they stand.'

Hazlin Hassan
The Straits Times
Singapore
13/10/08