Given the extensive checks by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), it does not seem plausible that investigators have failed to come up with evidence against the Fire and Rescue Services Department head, said former Kuala Lumpur deputy chief Mohd Ali Tambi Chik.

Last October, then Senior Asst Commissioner Mohd Ali blew the whistle on director-general Jaafar Sidek Tambi for alleged corruption and abuse of power in relation to use of department personnel and facilities to organise lavish wedding receptions for his son.

The first reception on Sept 14, 2002 was held at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara and was attended by some 5,000 people. The next day, another function was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, where 600 guests were feted.

Mohd Ali, 48, was told last month by the Public Services Department to go on early retirement from Dec 1.

Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Peter Chin was quoted in The Star on Nov 19 as saying that the ACA had cleared Jaafar of any wrongdoing and that Mohd Ali's service had been terminated "in the interest of the public".

Contacted yesterday, Mohd Ali: "It is hard to believe that the ACA could not find any evidence of corruption. It has been investigating for several months, collecting evidence from across the country."

"I am shocked that they now say that there is no evidence. What has happened to those logbooks for the fire trucks, for example? No one in the department will believe this."

'Sidelined by department'

Mohd Ali also reflected on the implications of having blown the whistle on his superior.

"As far as I am concerned, this is one big joke. You do something good for the country (in exposing corruption)...but eventually end up like this.

"So, what is the new prime minister going to do about all this?" he asked, in reference to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's frequent statements about coming down hard on corruption.

Asked if he would appeal or challenge the government's decision to terminate his service, Mohd Ali said: "It is the government's right to (to do so). I'm not going to argue with that. To put it simply, my immediate plan is to enjoy my retirement and pension.

"In any case, if they had not terminated my services, I would have asked for early retirement. It is impossible to serve when the department has been sidelining me for the past five years - no duties, no responsibilities, no authority."

However, he noted that one positive thing has come out of the experience.

"At least it had taught certain individuals within the department a real lesson not to abuse their position," he said.

The allegation was raised in the Dewan Rakyat last September by PAS MP for Pokok Sena Mahfuz Omar, but Housing and Local Governments Minister Ong Ka Ting denied the claim.

Ong (photo) said Jaafar did not plan to hold such elaborate functions but was requested to do so by his staff, and further described these as "personal" functions that did not exploit the department's equipment, vehicles or staff as alleged.

On the involvement of employees and meetings held to organise the two functions, the minister said this was done in the department's spirit of gotong-royong (collective help).

Last November, malaysiakini reported that Mohd Ali had been slapped with six show-cause letters from his superiors following the expos.