Declare wealth: PM's son, Khairy told
Malaysiakini.com
Dec 14, 2006

An opposition party today challenged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s son Kamaluddin and son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin to declare their wealth.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Youth) acting chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said the duo should not hide behind the premier.

They must declare their wealth before and after Abdullah became the prime minister in 2003, he said in a statement today.

Shamsul was responding to Abdullah’s interview which appeared in Thai newspaper, Bangkok Post, recently.

In the interview, the premier had defended his son and son-in-law. He said the accusations of nepotism against him were aimed at causing his downfall.

Kamaluddin is a successful businessman who owns a company called Scomi Bhd while Khairy, who is also Umno Youth deputy chief, borrowed RM9.2 million to buy shares in merchant bank ECM Libra Avenue.

However, the 31-year-old Oxford graduate sold off his shares four months ago purportedly due to political pressure, especially from former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

ACA probe

Shamsul said this is not the first time that the premier had defended his son and son-in-law in the media.

Expressing support for Abdullah’s clarion call against corruption, Shamsul said the premier should practice ‘leadership by example’ and instruct the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to probe him, his son and son-in-law.

“We also urge Abdullah to immediately order the ACA to investigate a report filed by Gerak (Movement for Democracy and Anti-Corruption) chairperson Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor against Kamaluddin.

“We believe the country must be immediately cured of the ills of corruption and abuse of power, especially since Malaysia is now at the 44th spot on the Corruption Perception Index,” he added.

In his interview with Bangkok Post, Abdullah said accusing a leader of practicing nepotism was one way of ruining his credibility.

He also took a swipe at Mahathir, saying: “The old man smashed Khairy’s pot of rice.”

“That's something about which I am very sad. He has sold his interest in ECM Libra (Avenue). Sold it at a loss. Now he has some debts to settle,” he lamented.

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