The press conference explanation by the Selangor Mentri Besar, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib about the RM2.4 million cash for which he was arrested and charged in Brisbane has now raised a new query which calls for answer.
Muhammad had said that the RM2.4 million belonged to his brothers and were for the purchase of property in Gold Coast, Brisbane meant for their children so that they have a place to stay when they go to Australia to further their studies.
Leaving aside the question for the moment why the Selangor Mentri Besar and an UMNO National Vice President should have no confidence in the country’s own educational system at a time when Malaysia is aiming to be an international centre of educational excellence, there is another more pertinent question calling for answer.
Muhammad should explain why his brothers are buying property at Gold Coast, Brisbane for their children to pursue their further education in Australia when the good and better colleges and universities are in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth while Gold Coast, Brisbane is basically a tourist and investment centre.
Muhammad’s explanation had raised many eye-brows, both inside the countrty and in Australia, as Gold Coast in Brisbane is most famous for its Surfers’ Paradise and 24-hour casinos.
Furthermore, there are also Australians who regard Gold Coast in Brisbane as “red-neck area”. Gold Coast in Brisbane has only one university, which is described as Australia’s first private university, namely Bond University, associated with the disgraced Australian tycoon who is in jail for corporate fraud and deception.
Clearly, one of the last places anyone who would want to buy property meant to have a place for their children to stay when they go to Australia to further their studies would be Gold Coast in Brisbane!
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