What Malaysians want is a full explanation from the government over former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's timber gift to President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, not evasive answers, Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said today.

"There is no need for heroics," said Lim, in reaction to Mahathir's recent assertion that he was prepared to be prosecuted if, in presenting the timber, found to have abused his power as prime minister.

The appropriate response, the DAP leader said, is for the former leader to reveal the cost of all gifts given to Mugabe, and whether they were done with full knowledge and approval of parliament.

Yesterday, when clarifiying his earlier admission that the timber gift was indeed given to Mugabe, Mahathir had said that the wood was valued at less than RM100,000.

He was responding to Mugabe's disclosure last month that Malaysia and China had funded his RM34.6 million mansion near Harare. Malaysia provided sawn timber for wall panelling, while China funded roofing materials for the 79-year-old leader's 25-bedroom retirement home.

Mahathir claimed that the timber gift was made before Mugabe was labelled a 'dictator'.

"When we gave gifts, we gave them to legitimate leaders. We couldn't foresee what would happen to these leaders or what they would do after the gifts had been presented to them," Mahathir had said.

Stop evading

Lim, who is MP for Ipoh Timor, said Mahathir is attempting to evade from the real issue.

"There could be no doubt that when Mahathir gave the gift to Mugabe, the Zimbabwean president was already universally recognised as a corrupt dictator," Lim said, adding that Mugabe have been well-censured since the 1990s for condoning corruption and protecting corrupt cronies.

"The question to ask is why Malaysia under Mahathir had not kept an arm's length to disassociate Malaysia from Mugabe's corrupt and dictatorial ways."

Human rights group Aliran, in chastising Mahathir's claim that the timber gift was "usual practice" from one leader to another, added that it was "odd" that cabinet ministers have expressed ignorance of the act.

"Ministers are in the dark, cabinet knows nothing about it and parliament is none the wiser. We are talking about the country's wealth and assets," said its president P Ramakrishnan.

Not private wealth

"Can it be just given away by an individual without sanction from the government? It is not private wealth to be donated as and when one is inclined to do so.

Ramakrishnan also chastised Mahathir's explanation that the gift could 'promote' Malaysian timber.

"It is more like exporting our timber without valid permit for the construction of an private palatial mansion that does not accrue any benefit for the timber industry."

"Mahathir is accountable for his action. He must come clean by providing the facts and figures to justify why a someone like Mugabe, who is regarded as a tyrant and despotic dictator, deserves this 'gift' from Malaysia."

When the issue was first picked up by the media, government leaders, including deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, said they were in the dark over the issue.

Following Mahathir's admission however, Najib said there was nothing wrong about the former prime minister's action:

"I am sure it was done with the best of intentions because we want to build linkages with the African countries. There is nothing illegal. The matter shouldn't be made a major issue," Najib had said.