The tables were turned on Lim Kit Siang today when leaders of two splinter parties called on the opposition leader to disclose the list of DAP parliamentarians who have Approved Permits (AP) to import cars.

The Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP) issued a 48-hour ultimatum and demanded full disclosure by DAP on the extent of its involvement in the AP scandal.

Otherwise, MDP secretary-general Wee Choo Keong warned that a report will be filed with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).

"We note that the opposition leader and DAP MPs (members of parliaments) are noticeably silent on the question whether they were involved in the AP scandal," he said in a statement.

"Upon the expiry of 48 hours notice, a report will be lodged against them with the ACA," he added.

Wee, a former DAP parliamentarian, had earlier this week called on his former party to declare the full list of its MPs who had since 1995 applied for and received APs from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

He also urged DAP to release the names of its MPs who had sold their APs and to which imported car dealer they were sold to.

"In the spirit of accountability and transparency, first and foremost, we call upon the opposition leader to confirm whether he had applied and received an AP from MITI," said Wee.

Another group, which had splintered from the merger of Parti Keadilan Nasional and Parti Rakyat Malaysia, voiced similar sentiments.

"Opposition members must first come clean before they comment on the APs issue," said SK Song, the secretary-general of the group which still calls itself Parti Rakyat Malaysia or PRM.

Mischievous work

In a statement responding to Wee's ultimatum, Lim called this a "sheer mischief at work" and called on Wee to carry out his threat to go to the ACA.

"Let the threat be carried out so that the Malaysian public can judge whether this is sheer mischief at work," said Lim.

Lim also said that Wee's move to go to the ACA after failing to gain information from any person as being novel.

"Why the pioneer of such creative political expose had not dared to use such tactics against ministers, deputy ministers and parliamentary secretaries, reporting to the ACA if answers are not forthcoming from them on any questions raised?"

However Lim said he would nevertheless welcome a visit from the ACA as he himself in turn would like to find out why his many previous reports against ruling politicians have not been probed.

In an earlier statement, the opposition leader however called on the ministry to release the full list of AP holders, including parliamentarians, since Rafidah Aziz took over as minister 18 years ago.

He also called on MITI to publish a list of individual APs issued every year since 1987.

"Are ministers, deputy ministers, and parliamentary secretaries entitled to APs? If so, the full list of APs issued to them as well as to all MPs from the issue of the first AP should be made public," he said.

Questions for Kui Lun

Meanwhile, Wee in his statement today, had trained his sights specifically on DAP parliamentarian for Bukit Bintang, Fong Kui Lun.

Wee demanded that Fong specify whether any DAP MPs had sold their APs or cars imported under their APs by virtue of their status as MP.

"Since Fong is a car dealer, he should be transparent and accountable to the public on how he or his family company obtained the APs to import cars."

Last week, Fong reportedly said that MPs were entitled to APs but denied any knowledge of them having abused the permits.