I refer to the report where it was alleged that a sum of US$1.2 million (RM 4.6 million) was paid to former high profile but now disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff in order to arrange a meeting between our former prime minister and President George W Bush.

Although it seems perplexing that money has to be paid to lobbyists to arrange a meeting between heads of government, one tends to wonder who paid the bills since our former premier said it didn't come from government coffers.

I am sure those who paid this big sum didn't do it from the kindness of their hearts but must have expected something in return for their deeds and if this doesn't constitute abuse of power, I wonder what does.

Somehow one gets the feeling that our former prime minister was desperate to see the sitting president of the United States to pay homage to him as most of the leaders in this region had already done so.

One tends to wonder aloud whether other government leaders had to seek lobbyists to see the president of the United States or was it because the "black eye" incident involving our former deputy premier has made our former prime minister a persona non grata in the White House

Having said that, the money paid to the lobbyist - who is now facing a corruption charge - would have been better used to improve the living standards of the poor in this country. The meeting of Bush and Mahathir didn't produce anything matching the amount spent.

Is this unnatural payment just the tip of the iceberg involving our former premier and will more dirty linen be washed in public about his unorthodox way of ruling our country? Time will tell.