Enter Mahathir, the blogger

Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched his own blog today, becoming the latest among many politicians who are crowding cyberspace to air their views.

The 81-year-old Mahathir, whose daughter Marina also blogs, was criticised for suppressing press freedoms during his 22-year tenure and clamped down on dissenting voices through strict media laws.

His first entry questioned the move to appoint an independent commission to appoint judges, recently announced by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"He has been mulling over this for several weeks and he has now decided to go ahead with it," Mahathir's aide Sufi Yusoff told AFP.

In his introductory note on the blog, www.chedet.com, Mahathir said the site was "dedicated to publishing my writings as and when I am able to pen my thoughts and opinion."

Pen name

"Che Det" is Mahathir's nickname as a child and his pen name.

Mahathir has emerged as Abdullah's harshest critic since the ruling Barisan Nasional government coalition suffered its worst-ever results in March 8 polls that left five states and a third of parliamentary seats in opposition hands.

In his post, Mahathir said the constitution would have to be amended before a commission could appoint judges, which would require a two-thirds majority in parliament, which the government does not have.

Mahathir's foray into the blogosphere follows similar moves by opposition leaders, most prominent among them DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, who was one of the first politicians to harness blogs and websites to reach voters.

- AFP