Following Anwar’s statement that  government papers in his possesion have nothing to do with security, Barisan  leaders should stop talking about treason and focus on the issue of corruption and abuses of power


Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang 
 

(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): Former Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday that government documents in his possesion have nothing to do with national security and were  related to incidences of corruption and abuses of power involving top Barisan Nasional leaders, including the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and the first Finance Minister, Tun Daim Zainuddin.

Following such a categorical statement by Anwar, Barisan Nasional leaders should stop talking about treason and focus on the issue of corruption and abuses of power in high political places.

The silence of the Barisan Nasional leaders about the contents of Anwar’s documents, namely corruption and abuses of power in high political places, is most deafening and this cannot be drowned out by their hysterical screams about imaginarry vital defence and security secrets being compromised to enemy forces.

The silence of the Anti-Corruption Agency, whose Director-General  Datuk Ahmad Zaki Husin recently lamented that the Opposition had not provided documentation to assist the agency in its anti-corruption campaign,  is also very conspicuous.

As the former Deputy Prime Minister says that he has documentary evidence on corruption and abuses of power in high political places, why hasn’t the ACA established a special task force to seek the co-operation and help of Anwar to zero in on graft in high political places?  Or is this an area which is completely out-of-bounds for the ACA?

Last week,  Ahmad Zaki Husin urged leaders of political  parties to stop labelling the ACA as  a government tool, as such claims would result in the public losing confidence in the ACA.

Ahmad Zaki should realise that the ACA is doing itself the greatest disservice as to its credibility when it is completely indifferent  and oblivious to the questions of corruption and abuses of power in high political places, when these are the burning  issue in both national and international circles following the three police reports lodged by Anwar, supported by documentary proof.

(17/8/99)


*Lim Kit Siang - Malaysian Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Democratic Action Party Secretary-General & Member of Parliament for Tanjong