Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, known for his quick and acerbic tongue, was never really expected to remain quietly after he retired last October.

Since the release in September of his former deputy Anwar Ibrahim, a one-time protege turned nemesis, Mahathir's remarks have increased in intensity. Some have obviously questioned the propriety of a former prime minister making such comments both locally and abroad.

The Westminster model of government has no rule on the scope and scale of a former prime minister`s involvement in public affairs, essentially because this does not infringe on the effectiveness and accountability of the government.

Thus, while Mahathir, to many, appears to be the proverbial loose cannon, it is clear that there is nothing in the Westminster political culture, nor for that matter, Malaysian political customs, to stop him from speaking his mind.

Indeed, the propensity of former prime ministers to speak freely has less to do with freedom of speech, than with the fact that the Westminster government is simply one that is performance-based, a model favored by many governments for at least 100 years.