translation The tiff between Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Dr Mahathir Mohamad would not have happened if the premier had show more respect to his ex-boss.

According to the Umno Seremban division, tensions could have been avoided if Abdullah had shown deference to Mahathir as an eminent former leader who contributed immensely to this nation.

Speaking to malaysiakini yesterday, division head Ishak Ismail said his 18,000-strong members were dissatisfied with the way the current administration had handled the issue.

He also described Abdullah's ministers as 'apple polishers' and lambasted them for their overboard censuring of Mahathir.

"Based on feedback, our members are not happy with the excessive criticism from the ministers against the former premier," he said.

Ishak also questioned why the ministers had kept silent when Works Minister S Samy Vellu openly criicised Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad.

"Why didn't they (the ministers) defend Shahrir. It is clear that their vocal criticism against Mahathir were just to appease (Abdullah) in order to ensure their places in the cabinet," he said.

Support for Dr M

On the same note, he expressed Umno Seremban's support for Mahathir in questioning the decisions made by the government.

"What is wrong in Mahathir criticising Abdullah if it is right and for the good of the country, especially concerning the half-bridge issue?" he asked.

According to him, Umno Seremban members were unable to accept the explanation on the bridge because the government had yet to deliver a convincing answer.

Over the past months, Mahathir had criticised his successor's administration for, among others, its decision to cancel the bridge project mooted by the former premier.

Apart from this, he also questioned the discrepancies in the issuance of Approved Permits (APs), Proton's decision to sell Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Augusta for a song to a euro 2 company as well as Proton's decision to not renew the contract of its former chief executive officer.

While claiming it was nothing personal, Mahathir had on one occasion wondered aloud if he had made the wrong choice in naming Abdullah as his successor.

Abdullah had refused to engage in a slugfest with his former boss but his ministers and party leaders criticised Mahathir and accused him of undermining the government.

Last week, there even rumours that Mahathir could be sacked from Umno.

Appoint Mukhriz

Meanwhile, Ishak also called on Abdullah to follow the footsteps of Mahathir and appoint the children of former leaders to the government.

He said Mahathir had appointed Syed Hamid Albar as a minister to honour his father Jaffar Albar's contribution to Umno Youth.

"Mahathir also appointed (Deputy Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak in appreciation of his father's services as a former prime minister as well as (Education Minister) Hishamuddin Hussein because of his father (also a former prime minister) Tun Hussein Onn's contribution to the nation.

"What is wrong if Abdullah appoints Mahathir's son (Umno Youth exco) Mukhriz (right) as a senator and later parliamentary secretary?" he asked.

Despite the spat between Abdullah and Mahathir, Ishak said Umno's strength had not been jeapordised.

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