Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's first deputy premier Musa Hitam has described his former boss as a tough act for anyone to follow, and advised his (Dr Mahathir's) successor to be himself.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should give up any attempt to emulate Dr Mahathir and just be himself, said Musa in an interview with Today newspaper of Singapore at his office in Kuala Lumpur today.

One-man show

"Dr Mahathir was literally a o­ne-man show -- he had ideas, he pushed them ...he implemented ideas, and his Cabinet colleagues as well as the whole system were following him and doing what he created," said Musa.

"Badawi (Abdullah) cannot be the same personality or leader. So, what Badawi will need will be a good back-up team, a much more creative team," said Musa.

According to the Today interview, excerpts of which was carried by Bernama, the turmoil caused by terrorism and international political developments will test Abdullah's resolve in managing crises, but Musa is optimistic: "It's going to be quite challenging but I think he will do it."

The newspaper said Musa, who was deputy premier from 1981 to 1986, resigned after several years of bitter disputes with Dr Mahathir over issues such as political appointments.

Differences

It added that at the time, Musa said he was resigning because Dr Mahathir no longer trusted him.

"I know that I've had my differences with him and I don't think I could have followed his act," said Musa, adding that he had never regretted the split.

Since he left the post, Musa has served in a number of distinguished positions for the Malaysian government, his most recent being the first chair of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam)