Megat Junid’s son: Yes, my father set up the Dr M-Bush meeting

ALOR SETAR: The son of the late Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayub has backed allegations that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had used “millions of ringgit” to arrange a meeting with then US President George W. Bush in 2002.

Datuk Megat Fairouz Junaidi said the meeting was arranged by his father because of his loyalty to the former prime minister of 22 years.

“To my knowledge, it is true that Tan Sri Megat Junid was instructed to set up a meeting between Tun Dr Mahathir and President George W. Bush. The initiative to set up the meeting had started in April 2001.

“My father had met certain people, including paying the lobbyists, to ensure that the meeting materialised. The meeting eventually took place in May 2002,” he said in a press release distributed to reporters here on Saturday.

Megat Junid was a former Umno information chief and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently alleged that Dr Mahathir had engaged the services of a Hong Kong-based lobbyist so that he could secure a meeting with Bush.

“He paid the lobbyist millions of ringgit. I know about this and so does (Datuk Seri) Dr Ahmad Zahid (Hamidi),” Najib said, referring to the deputy prime minister.

"The lobbyist was awarded with a lucrative coal project," he said upon arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here on Friday night from a working trip to the United States and United Kingdom.

Attempts are being made to contact Dr Mahathir.