Mahathir to get to bottom of indicted politician saga
Mahathir to get to bottom of indicted politician saga
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday he would decide on the fate of a politician charged in Australia with carrying a vast sum of undeclared money after getting his explanation.
The chief minister of Selangor, Muhammad Muhammad Taib, was charged on Monday in a Brisbane court with attempting to take the equivalent of US$990,000 in undeclared money out of Australia in Malaysian, Singapore and New Zealand currency.
"A decision will only be made when I am fully satisfied with the explanation given by him," Mahathir was reported by Bernama news agency as saying before departing northern Langkawi island where he had spent a weeklong holiday.
The youth wing of the fundamentalist opposition Parti Islam (PAS) has called on the anti-corruption agency to investigate Muhammad's alleged possession of the vast sum of cash.
PAS youth secretary Mahfuz Omar said the party wanted the anti-graft body to conduct an "immediate and fair investigation."
"Muhammad must explain not only to the prime minister but also to all Malaysians how he could be in possession of the vast sum of cash," Mahfuz said.
The 51-year-old Muhammad, who was recently re-elected vice president of Mahathir's ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO), was on holiday in Australia from December 16.
He was about to leave for New Zealand when he was stopped by customs officers at Brisbane airport.
He did not plead to the charge during a court appearance Monday and was released on bail until March 21.
Muhammad has since telephoned UMNO leaders from Wellington, New Zealand, saying he was trying to get a ticket to return home as soon as possible.
Mahathir said he wanted to find out from Muhammad personally what happened and urged politicians not to exploit the issue while awaiting the outcome of the court case.
"If he is guilty, we will not support him," Mahathir said, adding that he also needed to determine if there was any truth to allegations linking the money to the last UMNO election.
"I uphold the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty," Mahathir said.
Mahathir made an emotional plea to his party members before the start of the party's polls to rid UMNO of corrupt leaders and halt money politics.
"I never like to make accusations unless I can have clear proof. It's my principle ... for anyone at all, that will be my stand," he said.
Mahathir said Muhammad had tried to call him from Wellington, but so far had not been in direct contact with him.
Commenting on acting Foreign Minister Abu Hassan Omar's statement on Thursday that Muhammad had told him the money was for his shopping in New Zealand, Mahathir said: I want to know from him personally what he wants to buy."
"I would also like to know his purpose (for carrying the $990,000), " Mahathir said.
Malaysian opposition leader Lim Kit Siang on Friday demanded that Muhammad declare his assets.
According to latest parliamentary data, a state chief minister takes home a monthly pay of 28,250 ringgit ($11,300).
The amount includes a chief minister's basic monthly salary of 10,500 ringgit ($4,200), a 3,000 ringgit allowance as a state assemblyman, housing, entertainment and special allowances and other state government perks.