This is where the press photographers will be waiting to
record the smooth leadership transition and where Abdullah will assume his
duties as the country's fifth premier.

Staff of the Prime Minister's Office will line up to extend their wishes to Dr
Mahathir, who clocks out for the last time as prime minister.

From Saturday onwards, Dr Mahathir will be an ordinary Member of Parliament
and, most probably, sit near former MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik
at the Dewan Rakyat. Dr Ling stepped down from his party and government posts
in May.

In the final lap of his leadership, Dr Mahathir was in Timor Leste on a two-day
official visit where was accorded an official welcoming ceremony. Timor Leste
gained independence last year after breaking away from Indonesia.

Its president, Xanana Gusmao, has said that of all the countries in Asia,
the "Malaysian model" of national development and natural resource management
was most suitable to adopt.

Dili – the capital of Timor Leste – has named one of its streets after Dr
Mahathir. This is certainly the first for Dr Mahathir because he has forbidden
any local authority to name a road, building or project after him.

Over the weekend he was in Papua New Guinea
at the invitation of his counterpart, Sir Michael Thomas Somare. It was his
third visit to Papua New Guinea,
which has many Malaysian investors, particularly in logging.

On Wednesday, Dr Mahathir will chair his final Cabinet meeting. Most ministers,
I understand, have decided not to submit any working papers so as not to bog
down the meeting.

They want Dr Mahathir to use the occasion to express his feelings on how the
respective ministers should handle the priorities he would want carried out.
For the more senior ministers like Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Datuk Seri Dr
Lim Keng Yaik, this extraordinary meeting will be an emotional affair.

The following day, Dr Mahathir will speak at the Dewan Rakyat as a premier for
the last time. He will answer questions as well as table the mid-term review of
the Eighth Malaysia Plan.

The same evening, the Umno president will chair a meeting of the party supreme
council at the Putra World Trade Centre before breaking fast with senior Umno
officials.

For a man who has been branded a dictator and a despot for the past weeks by
the western media, he has certainly proved his willingness to give up his post
without being kicked out of office in an election or a revolution.

Dr Mahathir has not held on to office for life, unlike many leaders in the Arab
world who never even held elections. They are spared from any labels by a
hostile press because they act as proxies for the United
States.

The criticism against Dr Mahathir is a dampener as Malaysians prepare to bid
him farewell but he is no stranger to controversy. He is a man who calls a
spade a spade.

In many parts of the western world, the international media has humiliated him
for his purported anti-Semitic remarks. Yet, those of us who read his speech in
full or watched him on television during the opening of the Organisation of
Islamic Conference knew that his speech was directed at Muslims, particularly
the clerics and hardliners.

He lambasted Muslim countries for being backward and for shunning science and
technology. He ridiculed fatalistic Muslims who prepare for the next world but
ignore tomorrow. He castigated "interpreters of Islam who taught that the
acquisition of knowledge by Muslims meant only the study of Islamic
theology."

If anyone who should be upset, it ought to be the majority of Muslims.

We remember he caused an uproar some years back, especially among some PAS
leaders, when he allowed Israeli children to visit Malaysia
to see for themselves what a modern, progressive Muslim nation can be.

Even at home, we know how he has continuously criticised the Malays for
depending on the government and how he reminded non-bumiputras to accept the
benefits of affirmative action, which may seem unfair but has brought overall
political and economic stability to this country.

No one has been spared in his criticism, so there is no reason why the Arabs
and Jews should be spared. No one is a sacred cow and certainly no one is
untouchable as far as Dr Mahathir is concerned. Even the Malay Rulers found
that out.

We know Dr Mahathir enough to understand that when he said Malaysia
was already an Islamic state, the majority of non-Muslims were not alarmed
because under his leadership, our country has been forward-looking and
moderate.

We know that the Chinese and Indian communities do not have to worry about
their cultural dances being banned, unlike PAS which lumps such performances
under its anti-vice drive despite trying to convince us that they will be fair
to the minority races.

Dr Mahathir has brought unprecedented growth to Malaysia
over the past 22 years. He has single-handedly transformed a former British
colony that depended on rubber and tin into one of Asia's
most modern and wealthy countries.

We hold our heads high and proudly tell foreigners that we are Malaysians
because of you, Dr Mahathir. You have been an inspiration to all of us. For
this, we can only say thank you and wish you the very best in your future
endeavours.

Terima kasih, Dr Mahathir.

Not one of these ordinary Malaysians felt that the
tribute being paid to Dr Mahathir could be regarded as idolatry, toadying and
sycophancy, as some politicians have claimed.

Malaysians, regardless of their race and religion, simply want to say thank you
to a man they genuinely believe has contributed greatly to their lives.

Here is a man who has been the catalyst of tremendous changes to Malaysia
over the last 22 years.

While not all the messages were commendable of Dr Mahathir, which is
understandable and accepted in any democratic society, they acknowledged the
economic differences he had brought to this country.

Some clearly did not agree with his politics but they accepted his vision and
boldness. Much more than that, they also said they would miss him. But none
said the tribute was excessive.

I have decided to reproduce extracts of e-mail and letters from readers who
took the trouble to respond.

These Malaysians deserve to be heard by the rest of the nation, especially the
petty politicians.

Reader Mike Lui wrote that Dr Mahathir is more than just a Prime Minister,
describing him as "a father who would spank us when we misbehave, and when he
knew what was better he would not back down."

"Our country still lacks a true democracy but yet we never lacked a leader who
cared," he said, adding that Malaysians could not expect a perfect man.

Dr Mahathir, as Lui aptly pointed out, did not feel the need for popularity in
his leadership and quest to make Malaysia
better, and that the whole nation would miss his leadership.

"We have been lucky to have him. For this is indeed a great man and he has
served the country well," Lui wrote. "His work has made all of us proud as
Malaysians."

Reader Mohamed Ismail said Dr Mahathir had made many unpopular decisions in his
career and had angered him several times, but in the end the Prime Minister was
proven correct.

"He was a man ahead of the times. He was always many steps ahead of us and
often we could not understand that he just wanted the best for us.

"In the end, he was right and for that we must salute him.

"As a human being, he made mistakes but during the 22 years as a leader, his
achievements for Malaysia
certainly outweighed those flaws.

"As a Muslim, he also dared to tell us what was wrong with us," wrote
Mohamed.

Reader Lim Chew Yin admitted that at times she, too, had been angry with Dr
Mahathir, especially during the 1997 financial crisis and his strong criticism
of the West "but he stuck to his guns and we came away with flying
colours."

"I know this sounds clichéd, but I will always admire him and love him. He will
be greatly missed."

Riduan Ismail from Kuala Lumpur
telephoned to say he was upset with the "fault finders" and those with "holier
than thou" attitude who were more concerned with achieving their political
ambitions in the name of religion.

"Dr Mahathir was one man who would never be intimidated by those who want to
chart the course of the nation with their medieval social order.

"As a Muslim, I will remember Dr Mahathir for his guts in voicing the concerns
of moderate Muslims."

Ang Layping, who lives in the United States,
wrote that she was often overseas but had followed the country's development
and Dr Mahathir's leadership closely over the years.

"I personally felt that our country is very lucky to have such a respectful and
courageous leader. I have met him in New York
and I truly wish him well in health and many more years to come.

"Malaysians should be very proud of him; without him, we Malaysians will not be
known to other nations. Almost everyone in the world knows our prime minister.
I sincerely salute you. Thank you, sir."

Couple Anitha and S. Daniel e-mailed me to say that they were "deeply touched
with your kind words and understanding of our prime minister" in the two
previous articles.

"Our Prime Minister told us that we could do anything we want just by believing
in ourselves.

"He has so much confidence in us that we lack in ourselves. Despite the many
critics, he made Malaysia
shine."

From Italy,
reader Lee Sau Kuan wrote that "Dr Mahathir has developed Malaysia
and also made Malaysian well-known. I now live in Italy
but I miss him dearly."

Chee Keong Tan, in his late 20s, wrote: "I am one of the lucky people in the
age whereby we witnessed the tremendous growth of our beloved nation. Looking
around today, the living condition has improved, infrastructures have been
upgraded, we are all – at least the majority – more comfortable now than in the
80s.

"We owe all these to Dr M, a person so close to our hearts that he is like
family, a fatherly figure to all of us.

"I am sure many of us know how much he has sacrificed for the country and the
people, yet we have disappointed him again and again with problems.

"But just like a father, he never gave up on his 'sons and daughters.' Thanks
for not giving up on us, thanks for being a great father to all Malaysians. And
thanks for giving us a future.

"From the bottom of my heart, as well as many of the Malaysians, we will really
miss you and your love to us will never be forgotten. We love you, Dr M!"

Vickenswari Thurairajah wrote to say that she has an 11-year-old daughter and
wants to send a postcard to Dr Mahathir to thank him for what he has done for Malaysia.

Yes, your family can do so by writing to him at the Prime Minister's Office,
Bangunan Perdana Putra, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62502 Putrajaya
or email to ppm@pmo. gov.my.

From Ohio State
University in the United
States, student Johnny Khong, too, said he
wanted to write to Dr Mahathir to express "my deepest appreciation for his
leadership and inspiration during his tenure."

And finally, I even received two responses – from Bosnia
and Ethiopia –
saluting Dr Mahathir. They, too, say they will miss Dr Mahathir as much as all
of us.

THERE is a distinct difference between Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his predecessors – he made us believe in
ourselves and he believed in us.

It's legendary by now how much confidence he attempted to instil in us during
his 22-year leadership.

But not many Malaysians know how far he would go to prove his trust and faith
in us, even if it meant risking his own life.

Then there is another known critic of Dr Mahathir who had
written a book criticising the Proton Saga project but bought one vehicle
shortly later.

Yet another who used to be very angry with Dr Mahathir is Dr Chandra Muzaffar.
I do not know how he feels about the Prime Minister now but Dr Chandra has
certainly turned positive.

There are many of us, whether we wish to admit it or not, who was upset with
the Prime Minister at one time or another over the past 22 years. Even some of
our Cabinet ministers today had openly rebelled against Dr Mahathir with harsh
words.

In fact, I was among the critics. In October 1987, when he ordered the arrest
of 119 people comprising parliamentarians, civil rights leaders and social
activists, I honestly thought that Dr Mahathir had gone overboard.

My job as a journalist hung in the balance when he revoked the printing permit
of The Star and two other newspapers. The suspension lasted five months – a
rather long period of uncertainty.

Some of us who had earlier campaigned against the Official Secrets Act
genuinely believed that democracy was dead. So was press freedom.

In his first five years as Prime Minister, there was no end to the
controversies against Dr Mahathir but he carried on doggedly. He was determined
to prove many of us wrong.

Years later, as I began covering him as a newsman, I was able to understand his
leadership on a more personal level. From there, I became more appreciative of
him.

His labour of love had begun to bear fruit. The country's economy became robust
and we held our heads high, knowing we were better off than before.

He instilled confidence in us and as more and more foreigners became acquainted
with Malaysia,
we realised proudly that we were no longer in the backwaters of Borneo.
Thanks to Dr Mahathir, the white men now know about Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir stamped his authority because he wanted us to be focused and
channel our energies into making Malaysia
great.

If there is a price to pay for the development of Malaysia,
we were all willing to go along. We began to accept that democracy meant little
if we had empty stomachs.

Dr Mahathir is clearly a man ahead of the times, a visionary. On hindsight, we
began to see the logic of his actions, even if they might appear unpopular and
even irrational to some of us.

Economists like Dr Jomo talked of cronyism without realising the practical aspects
of doing business. The theory part is always easy.

But not many businessmen in this country can do a decent job, particularly when
it involves mega projects and the commitment of huge investments.

Those who had complained about the imposition of tolls on roads must surely
appreciate the fine network of highways we have today.

Travelling by road is so much safer and faster now. The toilets at the rest
areas today are much better than the horrendous sights that greeted us at
coffee shops along trunk roads.

Dr Mahathir did not build monuments named after him but created projects that
benefited the people.

It was he who gave the green light to bring cable television to our homes and
spoilt us with the many channels. And it was Dr Mahathir – regarded by the West
as an enemy of the press – who handed over 2,000 printing permits over the last
22 years.

He has been accused of being dictatorial and called a pharaoh by PAS leaders,
but that did not stop the opposition party from capturing two states. If elections
were rigged, that wouldn't have happened.

Two weeks ago, I travelled with Dr Mahathir to London
and Stockholm. Last week, I was in
Langkawi to interview him along with three colleagues.

The interview is probably among the last before he steps down on Oct 31. We
could sense that there was plenty he wanted to say.

Among them was the Anwar Ibrahim issue. It was obvious he had been pained
deeply and he needed to get his feelings off his chest when I asked whether he
had been misunderstood during his 22 years as Prime Minister.

It is a blot on his record but it would be terribly unfair to judge him merely
on that one sad episode. Surely, there are more pressing concerns of the
nation.

He wanted to dwell more about his efforts to get the Malays off the subsidy
crutch as "by and large, they have become even more dependent on the
government."

There was despair on his face. In his own words, he said he had tried
everything but he had lost.

For the majority of Malaysians, however, we can truly say he has done his very
best during his time in office.

There is nothing more we as Malaysians could ask for from Dr Mahathir. He has
been an extraordinary leader.

For that, we have been lucky. It is still more than three weeks before he
retires but I have already begun to miss him.