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.