The government will not prosecute former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad for 'gifting' Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe with Malaysian timber for his sprawling five million pound mansion.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the former premier did not breach the guideline outlined for the government in presenting gifts to foreign leaders.

In a parliamentary written reply to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh), he unveiled the guideline that stipulate the amount of gifts that can be presented to an "entourage delegate" who is given the status of government's guest.

Under the guidelines, the government fixed the value of gifts at RM400 for a foreign guest holding a minister or deputy minister post while RM300 for high-ranking officials.

However, the guideline did not fix an amount for foreign heads of state or government.

"Gift and souvenir to foreign heads of state or government is decided by the palace or the prime minister's office. An approval from the cabinet in this context is not needed.

"Hence, the government has no basis to charge the former prime minister," said Nazri.

According to the minister, the timbers from Malaysia, which was used to build the wall panels in the 25-room mansion, cost RM100,000.

Usual practice

Nazri said it is an usual practice to present gifts to foreign heads of government in order to display recognition and respect in international diplomacy relations.

"The funding of the timbers were therefore a gift from the Malaysian government as a sign of respect and recognition to him (Mugabe) as the Zimbabwean head of government," he added.

The issue came to light when the Zimbabwean president revealed that he received timber from Malaysia and tiles from China during an interview with British Sky News television in May.

Both Mugabe and Mahathir are known to be close allies.

Mahathir later admitted that the timber was presented to the Zimbabwean president but denied any wrongdoing on his part.

He also asked the government to prosecute him if the funding was deemed an offence.

Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang and corruption watchdog Transparency International Malaysia criticised Mahathir saying there was no moral and political reasons to fund Mugabe's mansion due to his reputation for dictatorial leadership.

Damansara school

Meanwhile, in a separate parliamentary written reply to Lim, Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the ministry has considered several proposals on the old premise of the SJK (C) Damansara school.

He said the ministry has considered several proposals made by the Selangor Education Department including to turn the old premises into a teachers activity centre, curriculum centre and store for the department to keep its important documents.

Hishammuddin also reiterated in the reply that the Damansara school had shifted to a new location in Tropicana and had been given a more comfortable and conducive learning place.