Word: mahathir
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While Malaysia thrived, few complained about Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's authoritarian inclinations. But the Asian economic downturn has thrown his tactics into new focus. He has come under heavy criticism for his treatment of Anwar Ibrahim, his reformist former deputy, who now sits in Sungai Buloh prison accused of sexual improprieties and corruption, charges Anwar and others in the opposition say are trumped up. President Clinton, who visits Malaysia next week, will avoid meeting Mahathir, partly in response to Anwar's detention. This interview, in which Anwar, pictured at right, responded to written questions, was smuggled out to TIME...
Anwar: Shortly after being brought to the police cell, blindfolded and handcuffed, I was severely beaten on the head, neck and face, rendering me somewhat unconscious till morning. I gathered information later from police officers that the direct involvement of the police top brass cannot be excluded. Dr. Mahathir was monitoring developments by the minute...
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Perhaps aware of the excitement vacuum created by his arrival at the Asian Pacific Economic Conference summit in Bill Clinton's stead, Al Gore wasted no time in insulting his hosts, throwing U.S. support behind the "brave" protesters calling for Malaysian prime minister Mahathir's ouster. Malaysian trade minister Rafidah Aziz called it "the most disgusting speech I've heard in my life." But TIME Washington correspondent Jef McAllister says Mahathir's is one carpet the U.S. won't stop urinating...
...There isn't much Mahathir can do to the U.S.," says McAllister. "The U.S. is upset at him over currency controls, and Anwar" -- the former deputy prime minister still jailed on controversial sex charges -- "has a lot of friends in Washington." That was in evidence Saturday, as Madeleine Albright visited with Anwar's wife; Gore, meanwhile, will give Mahathir wide berth throughout his visit. The host-bashing is good face time for the veep on a prominent human rights issue; too bad all the cameras are back in Washington with the current president...
...people in Malaysia who believe the foreign media are biased are either damned naive or unable to face the fact that Mahathir is becoming more and more dictatorial. HAJI MUSTAFA KAMAL Durban, South Africa...