KL denies oil deal report

Mon, 01 Dec 1997, 00:00 WIB | Source: REUTERS

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad on Saturday quashed reports that Malaysia had sought
US$8.8 billion from Taiwan in exchange for crude oil, the
national news agency Bernama said.

Speaking to reporters on his return from the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit in Canada and a two-day
working visit to Japan, Mahathir said it was just another rumor.

Taiwanese government spokesman David Lee on Friday also denied
an unsourced newspaper report that Mahathir had asked for the
money in exchange for Taiwan access to Malaysian crude oil during
a surprise stopover in Taipei.

Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong also made a similar
visit, raising speculation Taiwan might come to the aid of
Southeast Asia's battered economies.

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