January 28, 2000 
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| January 28, 2000 | atimes.com | |
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| Southeast Asia Ministers dismiss 'lies' about Mahathir's health KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin has joined Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi in dismissing rumors about Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's health, saying Mahathir ''is fine and enjoying his holiday'' abroad. Earlier, Abdullah rejected rumors that Mahathir was ill and that he had a fall after riding a horse in Argentina as ''outright lies''. Daim said, ''I am in touch with him [Mahathir] all the time,'' and that the prime minister would fly to London soon and would be in Paris on January 29 for a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac. Mahathir was expected to arrive in London later on Thursday after his holiday in Argentina and the Caribbean. Speculation about his health arose last week when he cancelled plans to attend the annual World Economic Forum meeting in the Swiss resort of Davos from January 27 to February 1. No reason was given. Daim said the rumors surfaced because some people made up stories, especially since Malaysia's economy and markets were recovering. The rumors caused the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange's Composite Index to dip by 11.11 points to 940.95 on Wednesday, but the stock market opened higher on Thursday with the benchmark Composite Index at 947.53 on bargain-hunting. (Asia Pulse/Bernama) | |||||||||
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