Syed Hamid toasted over Dr M-Bush meeting 
Malaysiakini – 29/3/2006
Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar was grilled in the Dewan Rakyat today over the allegation that the government paid US$1.2 million (RM4.6 million) to secure a meeting between ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and US president George W Bush three years ago. 

In his ministerial winding-up at the Dewan Rakyat, the minister denied the charge, saying it was normal for other countries to pay lobbyists to secure meetings but Malaysia did not do so. 

However, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said there was enough evidence to prove that Malaysia had paid money to disgraced US lobbyist Jack Abramoff for the meeting. This, he added, included an invoice sent by Abramoff to the Malaysian embassy in Washington DC requesting US$300,000 (RM1.1 million) for ‘unspecified services’. Abramoff had since pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion in the US. The minister reiterated that the meeting was secured through diplomatic channels upon an invitation from Bush. But Lim remained unconvinced. 

“I can accept that when it came to the final stage, the meeting was arranged through diplomatic channels. 

“But the issue now is whether the government paid lobbyists to get this meeting beforehand?” he asked, prompting Syed Hamid to reiterate his stand once again. 

“We won’t end the debate here because (Lim) has made up his mind (that the allegation is true),” added the annoyed minister. 

‘Why the denial?’ 

Lim continued his salvo and asked Syed Hamid why he denied the charge when his “former boss” (Mahathir) conceded that lobbyists were engaged. 

“Listen, if someone’s eyes and ears are closed, they could make any speculation. Mahathir said he used lobbyists but never (specifically) said he used lobbyists to secure the meeting with Bush,” replied the minister. 

Lim responded: “That was the exact question (on Mahathir-Bush meeting) asked and he replied it.” Syed Hamid then moved on to other topics in his winding-up speech. Earlier, the minister also dismissed Lim’s suggestion to recall Ghazali Sheikh Abdul Khalidi - the former Malaysian ambassador to the US - for questioning. He also denied that there were any family ties between Ghazali and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin and that his appointment was based on merit. Ghazali was said to be Daim’s brother-in-law
Source: Malaysiakini | www.malaysiakini.com