Mahatir, opposition trade charges

Mahatir, opposition trade charges

BUKIT SAGU, Malaysia (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and the opposition leader swapped accusations yesterday in a running battle between the political rivals.

Mahathir accused Lim Kit Siang, secretary general of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), of using his party to protect his son Lim Guan Eng, who is DAP deputy secretary general.

"They choose the son, then use the party to protect the son," Mahathir told reporters after inaugurating a cement plant in the eastern state of Pahang. "That is nepotism."

Kit Siang has been facing rumblings of dissent from within his party from members who are disgruntled over his son's position and a national DAP campaign against a sedition sentence which a court meted out to Guan Eng earlier this year.

The DAP last week punished three leaders, who subsequently have balked at the sanctions.

Kit Siang has repeatedly denied promoting his son, saying Guan Eng has shown his devotion by spending time in jail and risking another, 18-month sentence for the sedition conviction. Guan Eng has appealed against the conviction.

Local newspapers have devoted large amounts of space to the bickering within the DAP, and the party on Friday directed all leaders to stop speaking to the press on the matter.

Mahathir said the DAP had "gagged" its members. "They claimed that the government does not give freedom of the press. So what is this?" he said.

"The stripes of the tiger are emerging."

Kit Siang said in a statement that Mahathir's coalition was using its influence over the local media to give wide play to the DAP's problems.

The DAP leader said one Malay-language daily was giving broad coverage of his party's woes "when it has no word about the grave problem of KKN -- corruption, cronyism and nepotism -- in Malaysia which is now the focus of national and international concern".

Kit Siang said general elections, not due until 2000, could be held as early as August in view of the economic downturn and "deepening political problems" in Mahathir's United Malays National Organization (UMNO).

UMNO leaders have repeatedly dismissed speculation that elections might be called this year.