Malaysia to allow Thaksin to pass through

Putrajaya - Malaysia will have no objection if former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose visa has been revoked by the British authorities, wants to "pass through" the country.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said Malaysia would not take a prejudiced stand against Thaksin who is facing corruption charges in Thailand.

"However, if he wants to stay here after leaving London, the merits will have to be studied," he told reporters after chairing the Seventh Meeting of the Joint Commission between Malaysia and Iran yesterday.

Dr Rais said that so far Thaksin had not made any approach towards Malaysia.

On Monday, the Philippines indicated that it would turn Thaksin away should he apply for asylum after reports from Thailand said he is believed to be heading there.

Last month, he was sentenced by a Thai court to two years in jail for conflict of interest after helping his wife buy state-owned land when he was prime minister. Before going to London, he had stayed in Singapore.

Earlier, Dr Rais said Malaysian firms should not be discouraged from carrying out joint partnership on trade and investments in Iran despite several sanctions imposed on the country by the United States and United Nations.

"This is because the sanctions are imposed on only three areas, which are nuclear, defence and military.

"There is actually a lot of potential investing in Iran and Wisma Putra will streamline any cooperation on this matter as speedily as possible," he said.