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.