Malaysia denies plotting to descredit Anwar Ibrahim
Malaysia denies plotting to descredit Anwar Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia denounced on Friday a
Singapore newspaper that said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and
trusted supporters met secretly in November to plot strategy
against former cabinet minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Information Minister Mohamed Rahmat said a report in the
Singapore Business Times was "an ill-intentioned attempt" to
undermine Mahathir's governing coalition and his United Malays
National Organization (UMNO) party.
The newspaper, quoting "a leaked document" from the secret
meeting, said on Wednesday that Mahathir and senior UMNO leaders
met on Nov. 5 at the prime minister's official residence.
"I categorically deny that any such meeting took place," the
official Bernama news agency quoted Mohamed, who is secretary-
general of the governing Barisan Nasional (National Front)
coalition, as saying.
The daily said "Dr Mahathir conceded that he made some
'fundamental mistakes' and outlined a new 'soft line strategy'
for what he described as 'Round Two' in the war against Anwar".
Mahathir sacked Anwar in September. The former deputy prime
minister and finance minister was later arrested and charged with
five counts each of sodomy and corruption.
Anwar, who has pleaded not guilty to all 10 counts, has
accused Mahathir's associates of plotting to destroy his career.
Mahathir has said Anwar was morally unfit.
The Business Times said attending the November meeting were
Special Functions Minister Daim Zainuddin -- who last week was
named finance minister -- former deputy prime minister Ghafar
Baba, Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz and Mohamed among others.
Malaysia's information minister said the Singapore newspaper
apparently had picked a "fabricated account" of the meeting off
the Internet.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's opposition leader said on Friday that
Anwar had been the victim of injustice in his sex and corruption
trial and called for an emergency session of parliament.
He was commenting on a decision by the prosecution to amend
four corruption charges against Anwar and on the judge's move to
throw out all evidence relating to alleged sex crimes by Anwar
that was introduced during the first two months of the trial.
In a further development, Mahathir has pledged a smooth
transition of power to his deputy when he is ready to retire,
reports said on Friday.
Upon his retirement and barring unforeseen circumstances,
Mahathir was quoted as saying by The Star daily that his deputy
-- the newly appointed Abdullah Ahmad Badawi -- would succeed
him.
Abdullah was named to fill the vacancy left by the sacking of
Anwar in September, as part of a surprise cabinet reshuffle which
saw Mahathir reasserting his control.
Abdullah also took over the home ministry from Mahathir, while
top economic adviser Daim Zainuddin was reappointed as finance
minister, a post also previously held by Anwar.