Malaysia's PM faces 11 traffic summons

Kuala Lumpur, June 11 (UNI) Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been charged with 11 traffic offences by the local police.

Mr Abdullah, also an Internal Security Minister, was told by Deputy Inspector General Musa of the outstanding traffic summons against his official car and two cars owned by him. Five of the summons were issued for speeding, four for traffic obstruction and two for parking on the wrong side of the road, according to the Malaysian news reports today.

''Yes, I was informed of the matter. I will settle all the summons tomorrow. But before that, we will check on which car the summons were issued to and who was driving it,''Mr Abdullah, who is already under criticism from former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad for not keeping promises of following with his policies, said.

Dr Mahathir has been reportedly been upset over a number of policies including a decision by Abdullah's government to cancel publicly-funded projects, such as a proposed bridge to replace a century-old causeway to Singapore.

However, Mr Abdullah has diplomatically kept out of the debate and criticism by his former boss. By doing so, he has won the support of his government ministers, who have backed all his decisions, saying the Prime Minister was doing the best for his country.

Meanwhile, DIG Musa said, ''the traffic system was computerised.

But the police would definitely look into who was driving the vehicles owned by the Prime Minister.'' UNI XC PR RAI1338