Two opposition parties today criticised Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over his handling of the Economist issue and warned that it may bode ill for his future premiership.

In separate press statements, Keadilan information chief Khalid Jaafar and DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang both urged Abdullah to address issues raised by his critics rather than "whip up an anti-foreign media frenzy".

'Wrong signal'

The duo were responding to the controversy over the Economist survey series o­n Malaysia published in its April 5 edition. o­ne of the articles critically assessed the achievements of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Two weeks after the magazine was circulated, several Malaysian leaders, led by Umno vice-president Najib Abdul Razak (left) and Abdullah (right), took it to task for allegedly harbouring "ill-will" against the government.

This charge was denied by the writer Christopher Lockwood.

According to Khalid, the correct option for Abdullah would be to first address substantive issues raised not o­nly by the foreign media, but also by opposition parties and non-government organisations.

These, he noted, included contentious issues such as the use of the Internal Security Act, corruption, concerns over the independence of the judiciary, the lack of press freedom, and the case of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

"Once these issues are addressed, the rest is pure public relations. However, if these issues are evaded...no spin doctor can help him polish his image and that of the country he will lead," Khalid said.

Instead, Khalid said Abdullah had sent the "wrong signal" by asking the London-based magazine to apologise.

"The acting prime minister and his anti-free press colleagues in the Barisan Nasional must know that much mightier statesmen and much-loved personalities had in the past been the target of the Economist's critical scrutiny. Those who want to take o­n the world must not o­nly expect adulation but also condemnation," he said.

"Will (Abdullah) in the future ask every foreign media critical of a Malaysian leader and certain aspects of his policy to tender an apology?"

Leaders reprimanded

Khalid (right) also reprimanded BN leaders who have called for action against the magazine, including Puteri Umno chief Azalina Othman Said who yesterday called for a ban of the publication.

"Banning is an out of date and ineffectual measure. (Since) the circulation of foreign news magazines in Malaysia is often delayed up to three weeks or more, (an increasing number of) people are subscribing to them o­nline and emailing articles to friends," he said.

"Thanks to the controversy, the survey must have been read by more people via o­nline and emailed versions than the print edition."

Khalid said the experience this time showed that BN leaders should learn to handle the press more maturely.

"The can bludgeon the local press into compliance but they cannot to the same thing to the international media," he said.

Ban unjustified

Meanwhile, Lim said Abdullah should seriously reconsider his intention to take action against the Economist as it might send the wrong message to Malaysians and the world.

"I have no doubt that if a national opinion poll (is conducted o­n the issue), the overwhelming majority of Malaysians would be of the view that any Home Ministry action, let alone a ban, would be an over-reaction and overkill which does no credit to Mahathir, Abdullah, Umno or Malaysia," he said.

The DAP chairperson said although Umno leaders are completely within their right to express anger and outrage at the journalist and the Economist "for the critical, irreverent, disrespectful and even misguided series of articles", this did not justify a ban o­n the London-based weekly.

Furthermore, Lim (left) said Malaysians should not be affected by government decisions forced o­n them by Umno leaders who "clearly have a political axe to grind by inflaming the issue".

"There are moves in some quarters to derail the transition plan for Mahathir to step down in October and pass the baton of premiership to Abdullah," Lim claimed.

"But are such moves so credible that Abdullah should succumb to these unhealthy pressures like the o­ne being exercised over the Economist issue?"