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Speech in DAP Machap Umboo dinner   
by Lim Kit Siang  
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(Machap, Sunday) : Deputy Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that the Information Ministry would  counter all issues, including personal matters of national, state and local leaders, raised by the Opposition in the run-up to the Machap by-election.

In the past few decades, Barisan Nasional had been guilty of blatantly abusing government machinery, resources and funds for political party and personal gain but they had always denied it, trying to camouflage such abuses and political corruption under a fig-leaf of propriety and legitimacy.

But another unhealthy and dangerous precedent  has been set, when the Deputy Information Minister blatantly flaunt the abuses of the Information Ministry to serve the Barisan Nasional campaign needs in the Machap by-election �  bringing the integrity and morality of the ruling government to a new low at a time when the nation is celebrating 50 years of independence.

However, I agree with Zahid that serious allegations which had been made about abuses of power, malpractices and integrity against top government leaders should be answered in the Machap by-election.

In this connection, I call on the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak to clear their name over the charges made separately by the former Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister affecting their integrity in the Machap by-election.

At the public forum organised by Umno Kulai Besar branch on Thursday, former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad raised the issue of integrity of his successor when he said:  �Some leaders, they boast, oh my son is rich... They talk about their AUD25 million home. That's RM60 million. So strange, to have such a big house ..�

There can be no doubt that Mahathir was referring to Abdullah who must fully clarify the former Prime Minister�s questions about his integrity.

Former Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim raised questions about the integrity of the current Deputy Prime Minister during an an interview with Al-Jazeera on Wednesday.

Anwar said:

�There are complicities over the huge and massive commissions accrued by the government involving the Defence Ministry, Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

�These are not mere allegations. People have adduced evidence - US$120 million commission though submarine deals from France, US$100 million commission for Sukhoi jets from Russia.

�What is done? Nothing. Are there investigations? None.�

In the Machap by-election from April 3 -12, both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister must be able to remove the doubts and questions about their integrity which have repeatedly been raised by the former Prime Minister and a former Deputy Prime Minister. Otherwise, how could the Barisan Nasional ask for votes of support from the voters in the Machap by-election?

(1/4/2007)