Jailed ex-deputy premier did not lodge a police report in 1999 pertaining to the Perwaja Steel scandal, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told the Dewan Rakyat today.

"The police carried out an investigation and found that the assertion that Anwar had lodged a police report on Perwaja was unfounded.

"As such, there was no reason to record a statement from Anwar or list him as a witness or complainant in this case," he said in a parliamentary written reply to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh).

In her question yesterday, Kok asked why the police did not record a statement from Anwar since Perwaja managing director Eric Chia was charged on Feb 10 with criminal breach of trust after he was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).

She also questioned why the police were slower to act than the ACA. However, Abdullah, who is also internal security minister, did not answer this.

Nevertheless, the premier said, the police probed the scandal and a result of this, six investigation papers were opened.

In 1996, Anwar presented to Parliament a report by independent auditor Price Waterhouse Cooper which revealed that Chia's administrative 'weakness the company to suffer a RM11 billion loss.

Among others, the report also allegedly revealed suspicious payments made to a legal firm connected to a renowned lawyer, involving a sum of RM13 million.

Anwar claimed he then instructed the auditor to conduct further investigations, and subsequently a full report was released in 1998 which confirmed the misappropriation in Perwaja.

This included the financial assistance, approved by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, extended to the ailing company.

'Untruthful answer'

Kok later told reporters in the Parliament lobby that she was disappointed with the 'untruthful and irresponsible' answer from the premier. She also showed copies of the police report lodged by Anwar on July 21, 1999 with the Tun HS Lee police station.

"This is not the first time where the minister has given untruthful answers in Parliament.

"After Abdullah became prime minister, he urged the people to tell him the truth. I therefore urge him and all government officers to give truthful replies in the House," she added.

The DAP MP said she will write to Abdullah and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, who oversees parliamentary affairs, regarding the 'untruthful' answer.

Meanwhile, Anwar's wife and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said she was puzzled and shocked by the prime minister's answer.

The Permatang Pauh MP said she witnessed her husband lodging the police report.

"This is inappropriate. Action was not taken on a police report but there are cases where a complainant was being punished such as in the case of Mohd Ezam (Mohd Nor). It is a miscarriage of justice," she asserted.

Ezam, who is Keadilan Youth chief, was convicted under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and jailed for leaking classified documents pertaining to an ACA probe against International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz and former Melaka chief minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik.

However, Ezam was later acquitted while the government cleared Rafidah and Abdul Rahim of any wrongdoing.

Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said Abdullah's answer has led to a 'major discrepancy' between what he pledged and what is actually happening.