Corruption drive: Kit Siang asks PM to explain
Published: Apr 16, 2005 7:26 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang today called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to explain in Parliament next week his assessment of the effect and outcome of the anti-corruption drive initiated by the premier.
The opposition leader calls on Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to explain in Parliament his assessment of the effect of the anti-corruption drive he promised at the last general election.
Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang today called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to explain in Parliament next week his assessment of the effect and outcome of the anti-corruption drive initiated by the premier.
In view of claims made during the last general election campaign that his government would have "zero tolerance" for corruption, Lim said he was wondering how the prime minister would 'resuscitate' promises that have apparently lost much of their steam.
"Firstly, the national and international perception that Abdullah has failed to "walk the talk" in the past 17 months with regard to his pledge and commitment to bring to book the corrupt and crooked regardless of rank or status," Lim said.
The people also deserved an explanation, he said in a statement, in light of the suggestion by the premier's son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, that past cases of alleged corruption would not be investigated as the government would let 'bygones be bygones'.
"The second reason is the highly damaging revelation by Khairy that after the unprecedented landslide victory in the March 2004 general election, Abdullah decided to give immunity to all "old corruption cases" involving Barisan Nasional leaders by not "digging up the past and to be only concerned about "new corruption
cases."
Khairy had told the International Herald Tribune in an interview two weeks ago that the premier had decided after the general election last year that the government would not dig up past corrupt practices.
The Umno Youth deputy chief was quoted as saying: "We decided not to focus on retroactive actions... but rather look forward" when he responded to criticisms that Abdullah was not pushing hard enough against corruption.
Not flattering reflection
Lim also said the government's lackluster campaign against corruption was reflected in the statements of those ministers who had demanded their "pound of flesh" with malaysiakini for its 'three-minute April Fool's prank'.
Malaysiakini's April Fool's prank published on April 1 'claimed' that three ministers and a state chief minister would be charged for corruption.
This had caused a flap among those in government with AG Abdul Gani Patail reportedly furious over the prank. He wanted action to be taken against the online daily.
Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik said Thursday that malaysiakini was being investigated by the Attorney-General's Chambers and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
"Ministers demanding their "pound of flesh" for their fright and panic for the few moments when they believed the malaysiakini report, is not flattering reflection either on cabinet and government integrity in the context of a lackluster campaign against corruption," said the DAP leader.
In view of claims made during the last general election campaign that his government would have "zero tolerance" for corruption, Lim said he was wondering how the prime minister would 'resuscitate' promises that have apparently lost much of their steam.
"Firstly, the national and international perception that Abdullah has failed to "walk the talk" in the past 17 months with regard to his pledge and commitment to bring to book the corrupt and crooked regardless of rank or status," Lim said. The people also deserved an explanation, he said in a statement, in light of the suggestion by the premier's son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, that past cases of alleged corruption would not be investigated as the government would let 'bygones be bygones'.
"The second reason is the highly damaging revelation by Khairy that after the unprecedented landslide victory in the March 2004 general election, Abdullah decided to give immunity to all "old corruption cases" involving Barisan Nasional leaders by not "digging up the past and to be only concerned about "new corruption
cases." Khairy had told the International Herald Tribune in an interview two weeks ago that the premier had decided after the general election last year that the government would not dig up past corrupt practices.
The Umno Youth deputy chief was quoted as saying: "We decided not to focus on retroactive actions... but rather look forward" when he responded to criticisms that Abdullah was not pushing hard enough against corruption.
Not flattering reflection
Lim also said the government's lackluster campaign against corruption was reflected in the statements of those ministers who had demanded their "pound of flesh" with malaysiakini for its 'three-minute April Fool's prank'.
Malaysiakini's April Fool's prank published on April 1 'claimed' that three ministers and a state chief minister would be charged for corruption.
This had caused a flap among those in government with AG Abdul Gani Patail reportedly furious over the prank. He wanted action to be taken against the online daily.
Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik said Thursday that malaysiakini was being investigated by the Attorney-General's Chambers and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). "Ministers demanding their "pound of flesh" for their fright and panic for the few moments when they believed the malaysiakini report, is not flattering reflection either on cabinet and government integrity in the context of a lackluster campaign against corruption," said the DAP leader.
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