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.