June 22, 1999
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| June 22, 1999 | atimes.com | |
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| Southeast Asia Mahathir denies his son got money from Petronas KUALA LUMPUR - Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad denied an allegation by his former deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, that his son Mirzan obtained RM2 billion ($526 million) from Petronas. The prime pinister said there was no evidence at all that he had asked the national oil corporation to release RM2 billion to Mirzan as alleged by Anwar in a statement Saturday. Anwar was at the High Court Saturday attending his sodomy trial. ''RM2 billion is no small sum, can fill up one room. Why give to my son, you want me to die?'' Mahathir said, when winding up the debate at the general assembly of his ruling party, United Malays National Organization, which ended here Sunday. Showing to delegates a copy of Anwar's statement given to him by a reporter, Mahathir said he did not know the basis of Anwar's allegation but believed it was directed not at his son but at him. He said he would not want to smear his own name by asking Petronas to give RM2 billion for his son. ''However, some people will believe the allegations,'' said Mahathir, who is also UMNO president. He said Anwar should be charged for making baseless allegations. Mahathir said it was Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC) Bhd. that took over the business and acquired the assets of Konsortium Perkapalan Bhd. (KPB), the shipping company in which Mirzan had majority stake. ''Petronas was not involved at all in this matter,'' he said. In mid-August last year, KPB obtained permission from the Securities Commission to sell its shipping business and assets for $220 million in cash to MISC, a Petronas subsidiary. ''Although Petronas owned MISC, it did not acquire my son's shipping company which faced problems due to the economic downturn,'' he said. He said KPB suffered massive losses in the process of the takeover by MISC. Mahathir said Mirzan had initially wanted to sell KPB to a Chinese company that gave a better offer. ''But I told him: 'this [KPB] is a Bumiputera company, if you sell it to a Chinese, what will the people say of me?' I sincerely admit telling my son not to sell to a Chinese company. I'm sorry,'' he said. Mahathir also explained that the valuation for the sale was done by a qualified company, Chase Manhattan Bank of New York, which fixed the price at $313 million - but MISC bought it for $220 million. ''This caused losses,'' he said, adding: '' If he [Mirzan] had sold to the Chinese company, I'm sure he would not have incurred losses." He said Anwar's sweeping allegation must be replied to or he people would say it was true that Mahathir asked Petronas to give RM2 billion to Mirzan. ''It is easy [for Anwar to make allegations]. If I can give RM2 billion to my son, why can't I give at least RM500 million to UMNO?'' he joked. ''This is a slander that comes easily from Anwar's mouth. Actually, he is the one who asked Petronas because I don't have anything to do at all in matters involving my son. Even in cabinet meetings, if a matter has connection with the family, the person concerned must leave [the meeting]. I've left the meeting many times even if it involves my family only slightly. I'm not involved in discussions [on Mirzan's company]. I don't take part in the decision-making,'' he said. (Asia Pulse/Bernama) | |||||||||
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