Jasin parliamentarian Mohd Said Yusof will have to explain his actions to the Barisan Nasional leadership, including Prime Mnister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"He will have to explain his actions that have been interpreted as interfering with the workings of the Customs Department," Abdullah told reporters in Johor Bahru yesterday.

Saying that action would be taken against Mohd Said if investigations found there was reason to do so, Abdullah said he and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had agreed that Mohd Said would have to face a meeting which would also include assistant Whips.

"I, as the Parliament head, will also be there to hear from him," the prime minister was quoted by the Star as saying.

"There are a few things to be clarified. The option for the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to investigate the case is still open at the moment."

When asked to comment on the Malacca DAP's request for Abdullah to take action against Mohd Said, he said:

"This is action. We have to ascertain what had happened because he already said he was willing to be investigated."

Najib to decide

Meanwhile, the New Straits Times quoted Abdullah as saying that Mohd Said who also owned the forwarding agendy in question would have "to clear a few points" with him and his deputy, Najib Tun Razak.

"I have spoken to Najib and we have agreed that he (Mohd Said) needs to explain his actions at a meeting with us," Abdullah said adding that Najib would have the last say on the matter in his capacity as Barisan Nasional Whip.

Mohd Said had a brief meeting with the Prime Minister on Tuesday, when he apologised for the incident.

The MP has found himself embroiled in a controversy over his appeal to Malacca Customs to "close one eye" to the import of Indonesian timber which had exceeded the permitted size.