Press Statement

by Lim Guan Eng

(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is unlikely to be jailed for revealing official secrets about corruption because Pak Lah is not as repressive but he will have the whole nation behind him should he ever be charged. Mahathir’s claim that he had information about a former Minister who served under him was corrupt and that certain Umno division heads and Supreme Council members but that no action was taken has not surprised Malaysians.

However what surprised Malaysians are asking is why did he raise it now and no action was taken by Mahathir when he was the Prime Minister? However Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Pak Lah) should not use that reason to ignore Mahathir. Pak Lah should not ignore Mahathir’s threat to collect such evidence of corruption but commit himself to demanding the BPR explain why no action was taken.

This proves DAP’s criticisms of ACA as being ineffective and even incompetent in curbing corruption to the extent that the ACA should be renamed as the Badan Penutup Rasuah and not Badan Pencegah Rasuah. The anti-corruption campaign has come to a complete halt epitomized by the inaction over clear-cut cases of abuse of power such as against the Jasin MP Datuk Mohamad Said for telling the Melaka Customs Department to “close one eye” over a consignment of timber handled by his company.

Even a report I made with the BPR Melaka over the RM 908,242.33 health welfare public fund of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam who misused it for his own family members when it was supposed to be for the poor who can not pay the medical bills was covered up.  For this reason there should be fresh impetus to the anti-corruption campaign which has fizzled out with no corruption cases against politicians and government officials, especially local government councils.

Pak Lah should give BPR full freedom to investigate corruption without interference from politicians. As a first step he should revamp BPR by sacking the BPR Director-General and putting a new team of dedicated anti-corruption fighters to give full confidence that no one regardless of status or position will be spared.

Pak Lah Should Show He Is Not Only Clean But Seen To Be Clean.By Publicly Declaring His Family And His Assets 

Pak Lah should demonstrate leadership by example instead of feeble leadership by proving to Mahathir that he is not only clean but seen to be clean. He should respond to Mahahtir’s charges that Abdullah’s son (Kamaluddin) has business dealings worth more than RM1 billion. Mahathir claimed none of his children became a billionaire.

As a first step, the Prime Minister should publicly declare all his and his family assets. Such declaration would not only be transparent and accountable but also dispel suspicions and doubts that his family members have unfairly benefited from Pak Lah’s position as Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister publicly declares his assets, then his Ministers should also comply to disprove Mahathir’s claims of corruption by UMNO leaders.

Pak Lah must treat such allegations of corruption seriously because they originate from  his predecessor who appointed him with confidence that he is clean, efficient and trustworthy. If Mahathir who appoints him throws such allegations, Pak Lah must fully explain and open up all business dealings of his son and son-in-law to convince 26 million Malaysians who gave him the biggest parliamentary mandate (91%) in electoral history that he is deserving of such support.

Reacting by restricting press freedom and censoring the Internet is not only contrary to media freedom and the Bill of Guarantees of the Multimedia Super-Corridor(MSC). It will only validates Mahathir’s allegations that not only BPR is trying to cover up, even the Prime Minister’s office is guilty of such a crime.

(09/08/2006)