Birds Of The Same Feather

Mahathir Mohamad, the former Malaysian prime minister, has angrily rejected an outcry over his secret use of government funds to help the disgraced Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe build a new $A13 million mansion near Harare.

Dr Mahathir denied any impropriety in his decision to donate a $40,000 shipment of rare Malaysian rainforest timbers to his close friend Mr Mugabe, an international pariah for his human rights abuses and nationalist policies that have ruined Zimbabwe's economy.

"Yes, we did give Zimbabwe timber, but what's wrong with that?" a defiant Dr Mahathir, who retired last October after 22 years as Malaysian leader, said at the weekend.

He said it was common practice for world leaders to exchange gifts, and the luxury timber panelling sent to Zimbabwe was intended to promote Malaysia's forest industries.

"But if this is considered an offence, I am prepared to be prosecuted for abuse of power. I don't consider myself to be immune from the laws of this country," he said. 

Human rights and opposition groups are demanding an official inquiry into whether the gift was authorised by cabinet and whether additional financial assistance was given to Mr Mugabe.

Mr Mugabe, 79, said in a recent television interview that help to build the nearly completed mansion was coming from China and Malaysia. "Thanks to my good friend, former prime minister Mahathir," he said.

The sprawling residence - in an exclusive district about 25kilometres north of Harare - has 25 bedrooms with bathrooms and spas. It is three times the size of the official presidential residence in the capital.

A report in The Guardian estimated that the total cost of the project would exceed $14.7 million, at a time when nearly half of Zimbabwe's population is dependent on international food aid.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Razak, played down the issue, while implying Dr Mahathir had acted alone. "I am sure it was done with the best of intentions."

Malaysia developed strong ties with the Mugabe regime during Dr Mahathir's rule and was a key opponent of Commonwealth sanctions that led Zimbabwe to quit the grouping last December.