Mahathir vows investigation against opposition leader<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad vowed
\nFriday to investigate a prominent opposition figure accused of
\nlaunching a smear campaign against the Malaysian leader aimed at
\nbringing international economic sanctions that could ruin the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Mahathir said that certain actions allegedly taken by the
\nopposition National Justice Party's youth chief, Mohamad Ezam
\nMohamad Nor, suggested he may be a \"traitor.\"<\/p>\n
\"This is an attempt to destroy the country's economy and to
\nmake the people suffer,\" Mahathir said at a news conference after
\nthe government presented Malaysia's budget for 2001 in
\nParliament.<\/p>\n
Local media this week quoted Mohamad Ezam as saying he had
\nvisited the United States and Europe recently to foment hatred
\nagainst Mahathir for the government's treatment of jailed
\npolitician Anwar Ibrahim.<\/p>\n
Mohamad Ezam was scheduled to hold a news conference Saturday
\nto clarify the media reports and answer allegations that the
\nJustice Party, headed by Anwar's wife, had engaged the services
\nof a U.S. firm to lobby in favor of Malaysia's opposition with
\nCongress.<\/p>\n
According to some of the reports, Mohamad Ezam was seeking
\nsupport for sanctions against Malaysia to bring pressure on the
\ngovernment and force political reforms.<\/p>\n
The Singapore Straits Times reported on Thursday Anwar's
\nbackers had engaged Washington-based Janus Meritt Strategy (JMS)
\nin August under a four-month retainer fee for US$50,000. It did
\nnot say who the backers were.<\/p>\n
The report, widely published in Malaysian newspapers Friday,
\nsparked criticism from government leaders.<\/p>\n
But officials from the National Justice Party (Keadilan) led
\nby Anwar's wife, and a group set up to free the former politician
\nsaid they had no knowledge of the U.S. firm.<\/p>\n
\"There is no such thing. We don't need to hire lobbyists
\nbecause we are confident that just by presenting the facts,
\npeople will understand what we are fighting for,\" said Tian Chua,
\na vice president of Keadilan.<\/p>\n
Lobby<\/p>\n
\"We have a lot of friends, whether in the U.S., Indonesia or
\nHong Kong, who have been actively lobbying their governments on
\nhuman right policies in Malaysia.\"<\/p>\n
Mahathir, who has ruled the country for 19 years, pointed out
\nthat sanctions imposed on Iraq after the Gulf War \"did not affect
\nits leader, but the people suffered. This action will not affect
\nme in any other way, but they will make the people suffer.\"
\n\"If economic sanctions are imposed against us, we will not be
\nable to give the people what is being given today,\" Mahathir
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Mohamed Ezam is already facing charges under the Official
\nSecrets Act for allegedly having leaked classified government
\ndocuments to the media last year. He faces a maximum of seven
\nyears in jail if convicted.<\/p>\n
The Justice Party's vice-president, Tian Chua, accused
\nMahathir of trying to blame the opposition for his drop of
\npopularity overseas, where he was once applauded as a visionary
\nfigure who had enriched his country.<\/p>\n
\"Mahathir should not point the finger at the opposition for
\nthe lack of interest of foreign investors in Malaysia,\" Chua said
\nin a statement.<\/p>\n
He added that the Justice Party \"does not have the financial
\ncapacity to hire any international lobbyist.\"<\/p>\n
The Justice Party was formed shortly after Mahathir fired
\nAnwar, then his deputy premier, in September 1998, sparking anti-
\ngovernment sentiment that roiled the capital with protests for
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
Anwar was put on trial for corruption and sodomy, charges he
\ninsists were fabricated to prevent his ascension to power. He was
\nfound guilty in prolonged trials and sentenced to prison terms
\ntotaling 15 years.<\/p>\n
Some government politicians have accused the Justice Party of
\ntrying to curry favor abroad after seeing local support
\napparently dwindle in recent months.<\/p>",
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