The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) had come in to probe the controversial Approved Permits (AP) issue, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry has confirmed.

Deputy Minister Mah Siew Keong confirmed this when asked to comment on a story in a local daily that ACA officers had gone to the ministry on the matter.

"I was informed by my officers that the ACA visited the ministry and enquired about certain things," he said in a Star report today.

The deputy minister declined to elaborate. His boss, Rafidah Aziz, is currently abroad on medical leave but is expected to brief the cabinet on the AP issue next Wednesday.

ACA officers reportedly visited the ministry in Jalan Duta in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday and seized some documents pertaining to the issuing of APs.

'It's about Proton'

Yesterday, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said personal feelings should not come into play when it comes to discussing the AP issue.

"It's not something personal between Rafidah and me. I'm talking about Proton and national interest. It's not personal. It's not that at all.

"Why bring in personal things? You know I can also say I feel hurt when somebody who was working with me says I can't remember things and all that. I can also feel hurt.

"But that is irrelevant. My feelings have got nothing to do with this. What is important is whether it's good for the nation and Proton. That's all," he told reporters yesterday after delivering a lecture at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Rafidah has been avoiding the press ever since she returned from an official visit to South Africa a week ago. On her week's medical leave, she flew quietly to Perth on Wednesday.