The most notable casualty is the massive hydro-electric Bakun Dam in East Malaysia's Sarawak state.

CNN: Mahathir's Worldly Concerns

Many wonder if Mahathir's uncharacteristic and abrupt reversals, particularly on Bakun, will diminish his standing.

CNN: Mahathir's Worldly Concerns

And then came yet another problem with the troubled Bakun dam in Sarawak.

CNN: A DAY IN THE LIFE

But Gan Kim Khoon of SocGen-Crosby does not think both offerings will be undersubscribed, so CIMB should not be stuck with excess Bakun shares on its books.

CNN: K.L.'s Bargain Banks

As for Anwar's agenda during his absence, Mahathir said he would meet religious leaders to halt any abuses in enforcing Islamic laws, resolve any Bakun dispute and fight corruption without going on a witchhunt.

CNN: A DAY IN THE LIFE

Mr al-Bukhary, a close friend of the prime minister's, has built an extraordinary empire in a the five years since the crisis, including Malaysia's fast-growing new container port at Tanjung Pelepas, a hotel and property group, Pernas, mining companies, power companies, palm-oil companies and much else, including a controlling stake in the Bakun dam on the island of Borneo.

ECONOMIST: The big clean-up