Last week, Umno demanded rival party PAS to apologise for claiming that the Sauk incident allegedly involving Al Ma'unah members as a sandiwara (play acting). Now it is PAS' turn to ask for an apology from Umno.

According to PAS Youth chief Mahfuz Omar, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad should issue a public apology for not telling the truth about the cost of his new residence in the country's new adminstrative capital of Putrajaya.

"If Mahathir has any dignity he would resign from his post and the attorney general must consider initiating appropriate legal proceedings against him for being a public official who has lied about the country's expenditure," said Mahfuz.

Mahathir had earlier told Parliament that the cost of his newly built residence in Putrajaya was about RM17 million, he added.

However, a court case between architectural firm Arca 3 and Setia Putrajaya Sdn Bhd last Monday had put the basic cost of the building at about RM110 million, said Mahfuz who is PAS MP for Pokok Sena, Kedah.

In the dispute, Arca 3 claimed that it was appointed as architectural consultant to design the premier's residence through a letter of appointment dated Dec 26, 1996.

Arca 3 also said that Setia Putrajaya had failed to settle about RM3 million being the outstanding fees it had incurred.

Counter suit

Setia Putrajaya in its defence said the amount was payable only after it had certified the project's final estimate of the construction cost and upon satisfactory completion of all works, which it had not done.

The company is counter-suing Arca 3 for failing to discharge duties in a satisfactory manner as there were defects, error and omissions in its work. It is also seeking a counter-claim of about RM11 million.

The project's price-tag has been an ammunition in the hands of oppositionists who claim that the sum is staggering to people enduring a recession. Others say the money could be better spent in upgrading the nation's infrastructure.

In September 1998, just before ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim was arrested on corruption charges, he joined the chorus of Putrajaya sceptics and claimed that the PM's new house cost RM200 million.