Malaysian minister to quit: Paper

Malaysian minister to quit: Paper

MALAYSIA: Malaysia's Federal Territories Minister Isa Samad plans to resign since the ruling party has rejected his appeal against a suspension on charges of vote-buying, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

Isa, 56, will submit a resignation letter to the government's chief secretary on Monday, the Sunday Times reported, citing unnamed political sources. The letter will state the resignation is effective Oct. 15, it said.

An aide to the minister refused comment. He said he could neither confirm nor deny the newspaper report.

Isa had appealed against the United Malays National Organization's decision to suspend him for bribing members at the September 2004 party polls in order to win the party vice- presidency. He has denied the charges.

The party last week rejected his appeal but halved the length of his suspension to three years.

Isa's exit, if confirmed, would reignite speculation over a possible Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as he pursues a national war on corruption. -- Reuters