Minister quits

Kuala Lumpur - A rising young star in Malaysia's ruling party has offered to quit after an allegation that he had an affair with a 15-year-old girl. The Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, said that Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik, 42, chief minister of Malacca state, had submitted his resignation in a letter last month. On Wednesday Mr Rahim was dropped as chairman of the youth wing of Umno, traditionally a powerful position in the ruling party. Reuter