April 1 (Bloomberg) -- Former Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad called for an emergency meeting of the nation's biggest political party to oust Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi following the government's worst ever election showing.
``Only when we reject this leadership can we reform the party,'' Mahathir told a 2,000-strong gathering of mainly party members outside Kuala Lumpur today. ``It's OK if once in a while you betray or challenge the leadership. Don't be afraid.'' Abdullah has no comment, said a spokesman at his office who declined to be identified.
Mahathir, calling Abdullah ``shameless'' for not resigning, needs the party's support to oust the man he picked to succeed him. Public demands for change are mounting in Malaysia as an opposition alliance, buoyed by unprecedented election gains, woos government lawmakers in a bid to topple the coalition.
BERITADARIGUNUNG
