Jolting sex scandal throws Mahathir's party in chaos
Jolting sex scandal throws Mahathir's party in chaos
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A sex scandal allegedly involving a state minister of Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad's party was yesterday brewing into a crisis as a youth leader threatened to quit after the premier spoke of a plot to oust the beleaguered official.
Nazri Aziz, acting leader of the powerful youth wing of the premier's United Malays National Organization (UMNO), said he would resign if Mahathir felt that he had plotted to oust Rahim Thamby Chik, being probed for alleged involvement with a minor.
"I know Doctor Mahathir is (UMNO) president ... he is important. I am nothing and can be sacrificed but I cannot compromise my principles," said Nazri, who was recently told to lead the movement pending the probe.
The 44-year-old flamboyant Rahim was UMNO youth leader and chief minister of southwestern Malacca state.
Malacca UMNO youth members had earlier this week called on Mahathir to drop him in the upcoming general election, saying he would be a liability to the party in the state if renominated as a candidate.
Mahathir, returning from overseas Friday, accused some UMNO members of using Rahim's alleged involvement with a 15-year-old schoolgirl to oust him. He did not identify the plotters.
In a surprise change to his previous uncompromising tone, Mahathir had also called for restraint in public criticism of Rahim until he was proven guilty.
Nazri said the movement was deeply disappointed with Mahathir as his criticism was clearly aimed at and had humiliated the UMNO youth movement.
Mahathir said Rahim had handed in his letter of resignation, quitting all government and political posts last month.
The UMNO supreme council, the policy-making body of Mahathir's political party, would meet on Wednesday to decide whether or not to accept Rahim's resignation.
"The Rahim question is not a legal question but rather a political issue," Nazri charged.
Senior UMNO officials said the development signaled widening differences in opinion between supporters of Mahathir and that of his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim.
Disturbing
"This is disturbing coming at a time when a general election is likely to be called very soon," said a party official.
Malaysian opposition leaders are speculating that polls could be held as early as next month although the government's current five-year mandate expires only in October 1995.
Nazri said he took responsibility for the movement's decision to drop Rahim.
"We are responsible people with the party interest at heart. Do we want to defend one person or 579,000 UMNO youth members," Nazri asked.
"The point is people do not believe in Rahim as a political leader in UMNO. I don't have to wait until the court decides," he retorted, adding that Rahim would no longer be tenable as UMNO youth leader even if he was cleared of the sex charge.
Nazri, however, denied he had vested interest in fighting for Rahim's removal, saying he did not want to be seen as a leader without integrity.
The sex scandal began dominating the front pages of local newspapers in late August after the Utusan Malaysia newspaper, with close links to Malaysia's ruling elite, reported that Rahim was to quit due to personal problems.
Rahim was in the spotlight in 1984 when he was sued by a young Malaysian girl for breach of a matrimonial promise. The suit was later withdrawn.