Congratulations to Mat Taib for his acquittal in Brisbane but will he now prove his patriotism by selling his properties in Australia and New Zealand worth tens of millions of ringgit and bring the proceeds back to "save"  Malaysia?

(Petaling Jaya, Saturday): Congratulations to Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib for his acquittal by a jury in the Brisbane district court on two charges, first that  on Dec 16, 1996, under Section 29(3)(a) of the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988, he  knowingly made a false declaration in his International Currency Transfer Report that he had only  RM20,000 (A$9,793) when he arrived at the Brisbane International Airport, and secondly, that on Dec 22, 1996, at the Brisbane International Airport, under Section 15(1) of the Act, he  transferred out an equivalent of A$1.2mil in United States, Malaysian, Singapore and New Zealand currencies without declaring the sum to the Australian Customs.

While Muhammad is understandably celebrating his acquittal in Brisbane, there are several public interest questions he must address, including:
 

• whether he would prove his patriotism to Malaysia by selling his properties in Australia and New Zealand worth tens of millions of ringgit and to bring the proceeds back to help "save"  the country facing the worst economic crisis in history, especially as the Primary Industries Minister and Gerakan President, Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik had made severe strictures against Chinese millionaires who purportedly have RM20 billion funds in foreign countries.

• the outcome of Anti-Corruption Agency investigations into the wealth and assets as revealed by Muhammad Taib�s case in Brisbane, in particular in connection with the source of  such extraordinary assets.

• whether the Inland Revenue Department had initiated investigations, and if so the outcome, as to the source of the wealth disclosed in the case and whether they had been properly reported at all times.