MDP leader: Times up, Kit Siang
Roshan JasonPublished: Aug 5, 2005 6:56 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The 48-hour deadline given to Parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang to come clean on the Approved Permits (AP) scandal has expired.
The 48-hour deadline given to Parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang to come clean on the Approved Permits (AP) scandal has expired.
Following this, Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP) secretary-general Wee Choo Keong said he will keep his word and lodge a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).
"He (Lim) has failed to reveal his AP involvement within the 48 hours given to him. MDP will definitely lodge a report against him and other DAP parliamentarians," he said when contacted.
On Wednesday, Wee and members of a splinter group in Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), called on the DAP stalwart to answer allegations that he (Lim) and other DAP members of Parliament had applied and obtained APs from the government.
He also alleged that some had sold their APs for a profit.
Wee, sacked from the DAP several years ago, said the report will be lodged early next week as he needed time to prepare it.
As whether he was waging a personal vendetta against his former colleagues in DAP, Wee replied in the negative.
"There is nothing personal about this. These are people holding public office. Let's just look at the issue at hand - APs. You see, Lim always calls for transparency and accountability. He is 'Mr Clean'. So, he must now come out clean," he said.
Wee, a former MP himself, added that he had never applied for an AP.
When contacted, Lim said that he has a lot to say on the matter but will reserve his comments until after Wee carries out 'the threat'.
"I have things to say on various issues regarding APs, MPs and more. But since he has issued the threat, I will hold them back and allow him to lodge the report," he added.
Two days ago, Lim had said that Wee's ultimatum was a show of "sheer mischief at work".
Bukit Bintang MP explains
Meanwhile, Bukit Bintang MP and DAP treasurer Fong Kui Lun rubbished the allegations against him and his family.
"My family has been in the car business for almost 40 years, even before APs were introduced. I have only applied and received one AP in my life and I used it to buy a car for myself," he said when met yesterday.
He denied that he had bought APs for business purposes.
Wee had accused Fong and his family members, all second-hand car dealers, of importing cars using APs bought from MPs.
Fong also clarified that he had been misquoted by the media when he was reported to have said that all MPs were entitled to APs.
"I merely confirmed the statement when a reporter contacted me to ask if this was actually what the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Mah Siew Keong had said in the Dewan Negara sometime ago," he explained.
The AP controversy has hogged the national limelight over the past weeks. International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz is expected to present her explanation to the Cabinet next week after she failed to do so on Wednesday.
Following this, Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP) secretary-general Wee Choo Keong said he will keep his word and lodge a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA). "He (Lim) has failed to reveal his AP involvement within the 48 hours given to him. MDP will definitely lodge a report against him and other DAP parliamentarians," he said when contacted.
On Wednesday, Wee and members of a splinter group in Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), called on the DAP stalwart to answer allegations that he (Lim) and other DAP members of Parliament had applied and obtained APs from the government.
He also alleged that some had sold their APs for a profit.
Wee, sacked from the DAP several years ago, said the report will be lodged early next week as he needed time to prepare it.
As whether he was waging a personal vendetta against his former colleagues in DAP, Wee replied in the negative.
"There is nothing personal about this. These are people holding public office. Let's just look at the issue at hand - APs. You see, Lim always calls for transparency and accountability. He is 'Mr Clean'. So, he must now come out clean," he said.
Wee, a former MP himself, added that he had never applied for an AP.
When contacted, Lim said that he has a lot to say on the matter but will reserve his comments until after Wee carries out 'the threat'. "I have things to say on various issues regarding APs, MPs and more. But since he has issued the threat, I will hold them back and allow him to lodge the report," he added.
Two days ago, Lim had said that Wee's ultimatum was a show of "sheer mischief at work".
Bukit Bintang MP explains
Meanwhile, Bukit Bintang MP and DAP treasurer Fong Kui Lun rubbished the allegations against him and his family.
"My family has been in the car business for almost 40 years, even before APs were introduced. I have only applied and received one AP in my life and I used it to buy a car for myself," he said when met yesterday.
He denied that he had bought APs for business purposes.
Wee had accused Fong and his family members, all second-hand car dealers, of importing cars using APs bought from MPs.
Fong also clarified that he had been misquoted by the media when he was reported to have said that all MPs were entitled to APs.
"I merely confirmed the statement when a reporter contacted me to ask if this was actually what the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Mah Siew Keong had said in the Dewan Negara sometime ago," he explained.
The AP controversy has hogged the national limelight over the past weeks. International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz is expected to present her explanation to the Cabinet next week after she failed to do so on Wednesday.
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