An anti-corruption watchdog today asked if former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad obtained cabinet approval before 'gifting' Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe with timber for his lavish 25-bedroom mansion.

"If it was a gift from the government and the people of Malaysia, did he (Mahathir) get cabinet approval?" asked Kuala Lumpur Society for Transparency and Integrity president Tunku Abdul Aziz and his deputy, Param Cumaraswamy, in a statement

"And why was the gift not disclosed to Malaysian taxpayers?"

They were reacting to Mahathir's admission yesterday that Malaysian timber had been shipped to Zimbabwe for the construction of his close ally's mansion in Harare.

The former premier described it as a usual practice in promoting Malaysian timber.

"Yes, we did give Zimbabwe timber, but what's wrong with that?" he was quoted as saying in New Straits Times.

Total disregard

However, Abdul Aziz and Param asked if promoting Malaysian timber included using public funds to help a leader, perceived to be amongst the most corrupt in Africa, realise his dream of building a palatial home in a country ravaged by poverty neglect and corruption.

"Mahathir's response as reported in the media today is cavalier and smacks of total disregard for public opinion, to say the least," they said.

The matter came to light when Mugabe told Britain's Sky News that the Malaysian and Chinese governments were providing partial funding for the US$9 million (RM34 million) mansion.

Mugabe said he received timber from Mahathir and roofing materials from the Chinese government to build his 'retirement' home, which comes with two lakes.

The mansion - which looks like a medium-sized hotel - offers more than three acres of accommodation, mostly on three floors, including two-storey reception rooms, an office suite, and two dozen bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms and spas.

Mugabe, who has been in power for 23 years, is widely expected to step down as leader of his ruling Zanu-PF at the annual party congress in December or after his 80th birthday next February.

His total salary since Mugabe came to power has been no more than US$1 million (RM3.8 million). However, last year, he increased his annual salary by 1,000 per cent to US$42,000 (RM160,000).

'Shocking' disclosure

Malaysia's parliamentary Opposition Leader and DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang called for a probe to check if Malaysia had 'secretly and unlawfully' funded the mansion.

Describing Mugabe's disclosure as 'shocking', Lim said there was no "moral and political" reason for Malaysia to provide funds to a leader of bad repute.

"We know Mugabe is a good friend of Mahathir... (But) there was no parliamentary approval to fund this rotten and corruptible regime," he added.

Responding to this, Deputy Foreign Minister Joseph Salang Gandum said later that the government would check on the claim.