KUALA LUMPUR, October 29 (IslamOnline.net) - Malaysia’s change of leadership after 22 years of Premier Mahathir Mohamad’s reign signals a new dimension for the country though this will unlikely herald a new approach in human rights and larger democracy under Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, experts anticipated Wednesday, October 29.

"The change of leadership will mean a change of dimension but no paradigm shift in Malaysia will happen in the course of the new premier’s running of the country," Muhamad Abdullah, a political science specialist, told IslamOnline.net.

"Yet nothing much will change in terms of laws that controls the press, the media and the Internal Security Act (ISA) that allows for detention without trial for at least 2 years, will be maintained by the new leader," he added.

Abdullah asserted that nothing will change on the front of the battle for human rights and for more democracy.

"The opposition too will maintain their status-quo, fighting on major issues like human rights and democracy and freedom of expression," he added.

Mahathir, 78, is to resign Friday, October 31, leaving the lavish and richly decorated office of the Prime Minister at Putrajaya, the new administrative center of Malaysia, into the hands of one of his former opponents.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said to be of strong Islamic backgrounds coming from a family that has made its name in the religious circles of Malaysia, will have a monumental task to run the country after Mahathir.

Many believe he would not be able to repeat what his predecessor has achieved.

"There may be a change in the way things are done and Abdullah Ahmad, with all due respect to his own abilities to lead the country, will do well," said a United Malays National Organization (UMNO) member in Kuala Lumpur.

The UMNO is the main party in the ruling coalition in power, the National Front (NF) which is a grouping of 14 other parties all racially based. UMNO is Malay based and has never lost power since it successfully obtained independence of the then Malaya from the British Raj.

Its immediate future is also at stake with the resignation of Mahathir from all party posts and the incoming general elections will be seen as the greatest test of popularity and leadership of Abdullah Ahmad.

"The new premier will follow the path, he cannot change that and he has to use this booster to settles himself down before facing the incoming elections," said Abdullah to IOL.

Most of the people IOL spoke to on the streets or in their offices are of the same opinion as those expressed by Professor Othman Chuah, lecturer at the International Islamic University (IIU) who said that “there will be not much difference in the leadership change since the foundation of the economy is laid down”.

“However, there might be some political changes after the elections where Abdullah Badawi may drop some people and put his own people and new faces as ministers,” he added.

He also said that Mahathir, being an outspoken leader on the international scene has caused Malaysia to have an attraction from different sources, some positive and others negative.

“Ahmad Badawi may not be outspoken since he is known for his quietness. His low profile may help Malaysia in a sense. Yet we do not know that he will keep this low profile when he takes over as PM,” said Othman.

“After elections, due anytime now there might be lots of changes in the faces running the country. They are going to win, surely, though the opposition is quite strong in some states,” said a student from a local college in Kuala Lumpur to IOL.

He agreed with the opposition parties on their claims that Malaysia’s controlled press and media will not help the opposition in its quest to win power, adding that the change of leadership in the country will be good in many ways.

“At last we have a new face at the highest post, this may encourage people to see the country in new light,” said another student, Suzanna who is in her last year of studies at the University Malaya (UM).

Mahathir too made it clear to Badawi in public speeches, most of them widely televised by local TV stations, that the government’s policies will not change and that the new leader may have a different style of doing things but the fundaments will remain the same.

Chuah added to IOL that in Malaysia, it is the strength of the economy that will determine the success of the leadership and since the country’s economy is stable and doing well in many ways, Abdullah Ahmad will be handed over a perfect situation.

Malaysia offers the image of a very successful Muslim country, 60% of the population are Muslims, heading towards the status of developed nation with huge buildings, beautiful cities and a fast track economy that is doing well despite recent shattering events.