analysis Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi continues to feel haunted by his most vocal critic Dr Mahathir Mohamad, despite claims that the latter was 'finished off' in political terms after being defeated in the Umno Kubang Pasu divisional election prior to the party general assembly.

Mahathir's allegations of nepotism within the First Family - which fingered both son-in-law and Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin and son Kamaluddin - appear to have cut deep, going by Abdullah's response in an interview with the Bangkok Post .

In the interview, Abdullah apparently lost his characteristic calm.