Three Knockdown Rule

One wonders. One really wonders. Of all the ministers in the new Cabinet, why make Muhammad Muhammad Taib one?

Our ‘Mike Tyson’ (we shall call him ‘Mat’ here since we reckon the real Mike Tyson may deem it even too much for him to be associated with this Umno chap) is a politician with one of the most tarnished reputations in, and out of, the country.

Eleven years ago, on April 14, 1997 he resigned as Selangor mentri besar following a nasty scandal.

En route from Queensland to New Zealand, he had been caught attempting to carry money through customs without making a proper declaration. The sum, a paltry A$1.26 million – paltry by Malaysian standards, that is – is apparently for the purchase of real estate.

He was charged in a Brisbane court. Amongst other things, he told the magistrate he didn’t read English and therefore couldn’t make a proper declaration on the relevant forms. He also told the court he had bought properties worth more than A$17 million in Australia and New Zealand under the names of his wife, Asbi Rohani Asnan. He was found not guilty.

As a result of this admission of assets, in June 1998 Mat Tyson was charged by the Malaysian ACA under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1961. He had earlier on statutorily declared his assets to be worth only about RM11 million and A$3.5 million.

Then 53 and one of the three vice-presidents of Umno, Mat Tyson pleaded not guilty. Nothing more is reported of this case in the media but Mat Tyson resigned two weeks after the news broke.

It came out in an Aussie paper he had also bought 4,500ha of land in Currajong Park, near Brisbane, in the name of Asbi Rohani.

Prior to the corruption scandal, Mat Tyson was caught running off with the daughter of the then Sultan of Selangor. When confronted by the Ruler, he swore he had done no such thing. Wrote a letter to Sultan Salahuddin to that effect. Then somebody – we don’t know who – got hold of the marriage cert issued by the Thai authorities. The princess Tengku Zahariah’s name was on it and so was Mat Tyson’s.

Confronted the second time, Mat Tyson told the Sultan, ‘I beg your Highness’ forgiveness. But what’s a man do? It’s fated.’

Sometime later, he divorced the princess, paying RM16 million to settle the suit.

Yesterday, the papers reported Mat Tyson saying he was ‘utterly’ and pleasantly surprised by his appointment as a minister. He said his appointment was unexpected as he did not even contest in the general elections. He’s been made a Senator to enable him to take up the post as rural and regional development minister.

Well, he isn’t the only one surprised – or rather shall we say ’taken aback?’ – by this turn of events.

Pak Lah has promised the country a clean government. One that listens to the people. He says he has ‘learnt many lessons’ from its defeat in the general elections. So why bring back Mat Tyson?

Khir Toyo recently resigned as Selangor Umno and Barisan Nasional chief following the party’s sound trouncing at the hands of the opposition. In a heartbeat, it was announced Mat Tyson who is Umno information chief will be stepping in.

Hopefully, Pak Lah and Mat Tyson knows the three-knockdown rule. The money is one, the princess is two. One more scandal and Mat, it’s a TKO for you.