Graft agency clears top judge

Graft agency clears top judge

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's top judge has been cleared by the anti-corruption agency of allegations of misconduct made by an opposition member of parliament, who is now being probed for criminal defamation, officials said yesterday.

Attorney-General Mokhtar Abdullah said police would have to investigate MP Wee Choo Keong's motive in making allegations linking Lord President Hamid Omar to a corporate chief, who is a litigant in a key supreme court case.

Wee, a legislator for Malaysia's largest opposition group Democratic Action Party (DAP), is awaiting a supreme court decision on his appeal against a two-year jail term meted out in January by the High Court for contempt of court.

Wee had been ordered jailed for ignoring a court injunction obtained by listed MBf group of companies to stop his attack against the company's corporate integrity.

Under the federal constitution, those convicted and fined more than M$2,000 (US$800) or jailed for more than a year are disqualified from being an MP.