Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) today lodged a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) against Jasin parliamentarian Mohd Said Yusof.

According to a Bernama, the report was lodged at the Melaka ACA headquarters by PKR Jasin chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohamad Akin.

He also attached New Straits Times reports dated May 4 and 5 on Mohamad Said's actions and confession.

Mohamad Said is said to have tried to interfere in the duties of the Melaka Customs Department involving a consignment of timber that was seized in Kuala Linggi.

Speaking to reporters Shamsul Iskandar said he wanted the ACA to determine whether the MP had abused his powers.

In a related development, Transparency International Malaysia (TI) called for action to be taken against the MP.

"The government must not be seen to be condoning the wrongdoing of its party members," said TI president Ramon Navaratnam in a statement today.

The issue came to light when a news report claimed that a MP had asked the Malacca Customs and Excise Department to 'close one eye' regarding a company allegedly importing sawn timber that breached regulations.

It was later identified that the MP in the report was Mohd Said. He admitted that he had asked the authorities to overlook the matter but argued that he was not abusing his power.

Meanwhile, TI also commended Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang and Backbenchers Club head Shahrir Abdul Samad for defending the integrity of the August House.

Last week Lim had unsuccessfully tabled a motion to refer the news report to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee. His motion was supported by Shahrir.

However, the BBC head quit in a huff when other backbenchers refused to vote in support for the motion.

Government's commitment

Commenting on this, Ramon said: "The government's commitment to combat corruption should be shown at the highest level of governance and that is the Parliament."

He added that the resolution to refer the allegation of corruption against the MP should have been adopted.

This, he noted, would have allowed the privileges committee to investigate the truth in the "interests of transparency, integrity and good governance".

"TI hopes that the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against the MP who persuade the Customs officers to close one eye," he added.

In a related development, Lim today failed in his attempt to move a second privilege motion to refer the Jasin MP to the privileges committee for investigation.

Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib said the motion must be moved at the time when the matter occurred or at the first available opportunity.