Malaysia denies plotting to descredit Anwar Ibrahim<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia denounced on Friday a
\nSingapore newspaper that said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and
\ntrusted supporters met secretly in November to plot strategy
\nagainst former cabinet minister Anwar Ibrahim.<\/p>\n
Information Minister Mohamed Rahmat said a report in the
\nSingapore Business Times was \"an ill-intentioned attempt\" to
\nundermine Mahathir's governing coalition and his United Malays
\nNational Organization (UMNO) party.<\/p>\n
The newspaper, quoting \"a leaked document\" from the secret
\nmeeting, said on Wednesday that Mahathir and senior UMNO leaders
\nmet on Nov. 5 at the prime minister's official residence.<\/p>\n
\"I categorically deny that any such meeting took place,\" the
\nofficial Bernama news agency quoted Mohamed, who is secretary-
\ngeneral of the governing Barisan Nasional (National Front)
\ncoalition, as saying.<\/p>\n
The daily said \"Dr Mahathir conceded that he made some
\n'fundamental mistakes' and outlined a new 'soft line strategy'
\nfor what he described as 'Round Two' in the war against Anwar\".<\/p>\n
Mahathir sacked Anwar in September. The former deputy prime
\nminister and finance minister was later arrested and charged with
\nfive counts each of sodomy and corruption.<\/p>\n
Anwar, who has pleaded not guilty to all 10 counts, has
\naccused Mahathir's associates of plotting to destroy his career.
\nMahathir has said Anwar was morally unfit.<\/p>\n
The Business Times said attending the November meeting were
\nSpecial Functions Minister Daim Zainuddin -- who last week was
\nnamed finance minister -- former deputy prime minister Ghafar
\nBaba, Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz and Mohamed among others.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's information minister said the Singapore newspaper
\napparently had picked a \"fabricated account\" of the meeting off
\nthe Internet.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Malaysia's opposition leader said on Friday that
\nAnwar had been the victim of injustice in his sex and corruption
\ntrial and called for an emergency session of parliament.<\/p>\n
He was commenting on a decision by the prosecution to amend
\nfour corruption charges against Anwar and on the judge's move to
\nthrow out all evidence relating to alleged sex crimes by Anwar
\nthat was introduced during the first two months of the trial.<\/p>\n
In a further development, Mahathir has pledged a smooth
\ntransition of power to his deputy when he is ready to retire,
\nreports said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Upon his retirement and barring unforeseen circumstances,
\nMahathir was quoted as saying by The Star daily that his deputy
\n-- the newly appointed Abdullah Ahmad Badawi -- would succeed
\nhim.<\/p>\n
Abdullah was named to fill the vacancy left by the sacking of
\nAnwar in September, as part of a surprise cabinet reshuffle which
\nsaw Mahathir reasserting his control.<\/p>\n
Abdullah also took over the home ministry from Mahathir, while
\ntop economic adviser Daim Zainuddin was reappointed as finance
\nminister, a post also previously held by Anwar.<\/p>",
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