Fee Paid To Meet Bush

Former prime minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admits that “somebody” paid a lobby fee – US$1.2mil – to arrange his meeting with U.S. president George W. Bush in 2002.

“I don’t think the (Malaysian) Government paid. But I must admit the Heritage Foundation (a US think tank) arranged it.

“They talked me into meeting Bush because they said I would be able to influence him in some way regarding US policies...

A recent report in the Los Angeles Times said the Malaysian Government called on a lobbyist when it arranged for a meeting between Bush and Dr Mahathir in 2002.

The report claimed that the lobbyist was paid US$1.2mil by the Malaysian Government for his services in 2001 and 2002...

Dr Mahathir said in the United States, the practice to see a leader was to go through a lobbyist, who had to be paid.

“I did not touch the money. But, I think somebody paid. That is their practice,” he said. “That is their system. It is not corruption at all. It is very open.”

[It is not corruption at all. The practice to see a leader is to go through a lobbyist who had to be paid. It is very open. No not corrupt at all. Money? No problem.]