(Penang, Sunday): I will move a motion in next month’s Parliament on the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry on Nepotism with special focus on the children and associates of all political leaders, whether government or opposition.
In the four-day UMNO and UMNO Youth General Assemblies, corruption, cronyism and nepotism took the centre-stage for the first time in history.
Although the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad finally denied that there was KKN in Malaysia - corruption, cronyism and nepotism - although earlier he tried to give an absurd definition of cronyism and nepotism to make them disappear from the Malaysian political scene, the issue cannot and will not end with just bare denials. If bare denials can resolve serious allegations of corruption, cronyism and nepotism, Suharto would still be President of Indonesia today.
Yesterday, Mahathir released a list of names of those awarded privatised projects. The list of 171 companies includes the names of major shareholders and those connected to party and government leaders. Mahathir also made available another set containing 114 companies which had been offered privatised projects in principle.
All Malaysians should study these list of names. Absence of prominent personalities from these lists does not mean that they are not involved, because the names appearing in the list could well be nominees of prominent government personalities.
This is why there should be a Royal Commission of Inquiry on Nepotism to investigate into everyone of the companies and names disclosed by the lists, as well as the beneficiaries of awards of approved permits (APs), licences and shares to ascertain whether they are proxies or trustees of well-known political leaders.
Last week, for the second time in a few days, Mahathir Mohamad took advantage of internal DAP allegations of nepotism against me to again accuse me of nepotism in the case of Lim Guan Eng - hoping to distract national and international attention about the curse corruption, cronyism and nepotism in Malaysia.
Malaysians and the world know that Guan Eng had never got privatisation contracts, mega-projects, mega-loans or mega-bailouts using government money. What Guan Eng is getting is 36 months’ jail for championing the honour, human rights and women rights of a 15-year-old girl against the most mighty, powerful and influential personality in the state, who was none other than the Chief Minister of the Malacca state at the time.
When Mahathir accused me of nepotism, he was given the fullest media publicity over radio, television and the local printed media. But when I rebutted Mahathir’s allegation and demanded a full investigation into the business activities of the children and associates of Mahathir, namely Mirzan, Mokhzani and Mukhriz Mahathir, my statement was blacked out by the mass media, whether electronic and printed.
This is a best example that there is no press freedom or mass media fair-play in Malaysia.
In calling for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Nepotism, I am not suggest that the investigation should be confined to inquiries into Mahathir and his three children and other associates, or only that of the MCA President and Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik and his son, Ling Hee Leong, who made the dubious distinction of being able to acquire RM1.2 billion corporate stakes in three months at the tender age of 27 years, but also into the alleged Lim Kit Siang/Lim Guan Eng nepotism. I am prepared to fully co-operate with the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Nepotism to enable it to establish whether there is such a thing as Lim Kit Siang/Lim Guan Eng nepotism.
Is Mahathir, Liong Sik and all Barisan Nasional leaders, Ministers and MPs prepared to give the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Nepotism similar unqualified and fulsome co-operation by supporting the DAP motion in Parliament next month and make this motion the first item of parliamentary business when Parliament reconvenes on July 13?
(21/6/98)