A senior Malaysian politician, Muhammad Muhammad Taib, has been ordered to appear in court to answer corruption charges.

A statement from the Anti-Corruption Agency in Kuala Lumpur said the charges related to an investigation launched two years ago after Mr Muhammed was arrested at an Australian airport with more than one million dollars in undeclared cash.

He was acquited of currency charges by an Australian court in May.

But during his trial it was revealed that Mr Muhammed owned several properties in Australia and New Zealand, all bought in his wife's name.

Until his arrest Mr Muhammad was chief minister of Selangor, and he is still a vice president of Malaysia's dominant UMNO party.