Mahathir vows investigation against opposition leader

Mahathir vows investigation against opposition leader

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad vowed
Friday to investigate a prominent opposition figure accused of
launching a smear campaign against the Malaysian leader aimed at
bringing international economic sanctions that could ruin the
country.

Mahathir said that certain actions allegedly taken by the
opposition National Justice Party's youth chief, Mohamad Ezam
Mohamad Nor, suggested he may be a "traitor."

"This is an attempt to destroy the country's economy and to
make the people suffer," Mahathir said at a news conference after
the government presented Malaysia's budget for 2001 in
Parliament.

Local media this week quoted Mohamad Ezam as saying he had
visited the United States and Europe recently to foment hatred
against Mahathir for the government's treatment of jailed
politician Anwar Ibrahim.

Mohamad Ezam was scheduled to hold a news conference Saturday
to clarify the media reports and answer allegations that the
Justice Party, headed by Anwar's wife, had engaged the services
of a U.S. firm to lobby in favor of Malaysia's opposition with
Congress.

According to some of the reports, Mohamad Ezam was seeking
support for sanctions against Malaysia to bring pressure on the
government and force political reforms.

The Singapore Straits Times reported on Thursday Anwar's
backers had engaged Washington-based Janus Meritt Strategy (JMS)
in August under a four-month retainer fee for US$50,000. It did
not say who the backers were.

The report, widely published in Malaysian newspapers Friday,
sparked criticism from government leaders.

But officials from the National Justice Party (Keadilan) led
by Anwar's wife, and a group set up to free the former politician
said they had no knowledge of the U.S. firm.

"There is no such thing. We don't need to hire lobbyists
because we are confident that just by presenting the facts,
people will understand what we are fighting for," said Tian Chua,
a vice president of Keadilan.

Lobby

"We have a lot of friends, whether in the U.S., Indonesia or
Hong Kong, who have been actively lobbying their governments on
human right policies in Malaysia."

Mahathir, who has ruled the country for 19 years, pointed out
that sanctions imposed on Iraq after the Gulf War "did not affect
its leader, but the people suffered. This action will not affect
me in any other way, but they will make the people suffer."
"If economic sanctions are imposed against us, we will not be
able to give the people what is being given today," Mahathir
said.

Mohamed Ezam is already facing charges under the Official
Secrets Act for allegedly having leaked classified government
documents to the media last year. He faces a maximum of seven
years in jail if convicted.

The Justice Party's vice-president, Tian Chua, accused
Mahathir of trying to blame the opposition for his drop of
popularity overseas, where he was once applauded as a visionary
figure who had enriched his country.

"Mahathir should not point the finger at the opposition for
the lack of interest of foreign investors in Malaysia," Chua said
in a statement.

He added that the Justice Party "does not have the financial
capacity to hire any international lobbyist."

The Justice Party was formed shortly after Mahathir fired
Anwar, then his deputy premier, in September 1998, sparking anti-
government sentiment that roiled the capital with protests for
months.

Anwar was put on trial for corruption and sodomy, charges he
insists were fabricated to prevent his ascension to power. He was
found guilty in prolonged trials and sentenced to prison terms
totaling 15 years.

Some government politicians have accused the Justice Party of
trying to curry favor abroad after seeing local support
apparently dwindle in recent months.