Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang broke his silence on the Approved Permits (AP) scandal today, denying that he has ever sold an AP or personally using it to import a car.

"Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP) secretary-general Wee Choo Keong's report with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) that I have sold an AP is a lie. I have never used an AP to import a car and I reserve the right to take legal action (against him)," he said in a statement today.

Lim's response put to rest questions on his integrity and insinuations of hypocrisy regarding his calls on the government to publicly reveal names of all AP holders.

"Wee has proved that he is not only a political joker but also political desperado who has no compunction in lodging an ACA report accusing me of AP corruption when I have never used an AP to import a car or any item," he added.

He urged Wee to stop the rot in compliance with the prime minister's recent calls for an end to current practices among Malaysians of sending short messaging services (sms') via mobile phones - containing malicious lies - to others.

"I fully agree and endorse Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's sentiments. The making and spreading of lies and wild allegations through an ACA report - as perpetrated by Wee - is equally reprehensible," the former DAP chairperson said.

Agong given AP

According to Lim, 4,393 individual APs have been issued by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) from January 2000 to May 2005.

"APs were issued including to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, sultans, state governors, the prime minister, MPs, members of the Royal Australian Air Force (and) members of foreign embassies," he claimed.

He also said the list included those who participated in the Tourism Ministry's Malaysian My Second Home Programme as well as Malaysians who have worked or studied abroad.

"An MP who used an AP discloses no offence of corruption. However, Rafidah Aziz should fully and satisfactorily explain the basis of issuance of individual APs which average a thousand a year," he urged.

He also wants answers from Rafidah's meeting with the Cabinet today on "questions of accountability and transparency on the issuance of opens and franchise APs in the past 35 years".

Lim confirmed that MPs were offered an AP each in 1997 and asked whether this was a decision made by the cabinet or Rafidah. Either way, he wants to know why the decision to extend individual APs to MPs were made.

The opposition leader added that he would not entertain any further exchange with Wee, a sacked DAP member, henceforth as there are more pressing national issues at hand.