PM Is Urged To Direct Government Officers And Ministers To Tell The
Truth And To Make Parliament The House Of Truth
Media Statement
by Teresa
Kok
(Parliament House,
Wednesday): I
am most dismayed by the written answers given by the Minister of Internal
Security to me yesterday on my question why the police have never taken a
witness statement from Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim in respect of his Tun H.S.
Lee Report No. 19625/99 where he referred to the Price Waterhouse Audit
Report that was commissioned by the government exposing massive
irregularities in Perwaja and in particular making references to Tan Sri
Eric Chia.
The answer given by the Minister of Internal Security to me was as follows:
"The police have carried out investigations and found that the assertion
that Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim has lodged a police report on Perwaja as
unfounded. Upon looking into the matter it was found that Dato' Seri Anwar
Ibrahim did not make any police report on Perwaja. As such, there was no
reason to record the statement from Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim and also
because he was not listed as a witness or complainant in this case.
"However, the police itself has carried out investigations on this case,
and the outcome of it has resulted in the opening of 6 investigation
papers."
On another question as to why was the police action was slower than that of
the ACA, the Honorable Minister failed to answer.
The above reply is most untruthful and irresponsible as Dato' Seri Anwar
Ibrahim did made a police report on Perwaja on 21st July 1999 and I have a
copy in my hand. If this answer is prepared by the officers of Internal
Security Ministry, it is clear that the officers concerned have given a
misleading answer to the House and I hold the Prime Minster cum Minister of
Internal Security responsible for it.
This is not the first time where the minister has given untruthful answers
to Parliament. After Dato' Seri Abdullah Badawi has become the Prime
Minister, he has urged the people to tell him the truth. I therefore urge
the PM and all government officers to give truthful replies as required by
the House. The minister concerned ought to have verified the answers
prepared by the civil servants before delivering it.
I will write to the Prime Minister to complain about this answer given by
the Honorable Minister in the House, and I will also write to the Minister
in charge of the Parliament, Dato' Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz on the matter.
I hope the Cabinet can discuss this matter and direct all government
officers to give truthful replies to Parliament in future as this is an
integral part of Parliamentary Reform.
(2/6/2004)
* Teresa Kok, DAP MP for Seputeh
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