ABDULLAH MUST TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFEAT, SAYS DR M

KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) -- Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today his successor, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, must take full responsibility for the major defeat suffered by Barisan Nasional (BN) in the just-concluded general election. "He should accept responsibility for this, just as in 2004 the huge victory was reportedly due to him, 100 per cent, and that was said by the then secretary-general of Umno. "But now also he should accept 100 per cent responsibility. He has destroyed Umno, he has destroyed BN, and he should be responsible of this massive defeat," he told a news conference held hours after the polls results were announced here. The former prime minister said it was shocking that the BN had been trounced in five states and the federal territory due to the same signal sent by all the three major races -- Malay, Chinese and Indian. "I think the Japanese would have committed harakiri. But I think Malays are not up to this yet. I think he should consider stepping down," he said, adding adding that he would have done the same thing if he was in Abdullah''s shoes now. -- MORE