(Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang in Ipoh on the eve of nomination day for 12th general election on 23rd February 2008)

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Thursday that he would present a progress report on the government’s performance from 2004 to 2007.

When he took over as the fifth Prime Minister more than four years ago, he took the country by storm with his pledge to be “Justice Bao” to eradicate corruption and all forms of abuses of power, culminating in a National Integrity Plan in May 2004 after Abdullah’s unprecedented 2004 general election victory, crushing the Opposition and commanding over 91 per cent of the parliamentary seats.

A few days ago, the Police and the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) announced that they have cleared all the prospective candidates for the Barisan Nasional for the forthcoming 12th general election, formally beginning on Nomination Day tomorrow, presenting a slate of BN candidates which symbolizes integrity and incorruptibility.

If the Barisan Nasional slate of candidates for the 2008 general election all stand for integrity and incorruptibility, then let Abdullah and the MCA President, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting explain what has happened to my 11-year-old ACA report in June 1997 calling for investigations as to how the announced MCA Parliamentary Candidate for Gopeng, Ling Hee Leong could at the age of 27 embark on corporate acquisitions exceeding RM1.2 billion in a matter of months and whether there had been improper use and influence of his father, Liong Sik’s political and Ministerial position.

Liong Sik was at the time the MCA President and the predecessor of Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy as Transport Minister – with Kong Choy now mysteriously announcing that he would not be seeking re-election citing health as reason, although “political and good governance” health connected with the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) bailout scandal appeared to be a greater “health” consideration.

The RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout scandal, the first biggest financial scandal of the Abdullah premiership which is greater than the first financial scandal of the 22-year Mahathir era – the RM2.5 billion Bumiputra Malaysia Finance (BMF) scandal 25 years ago will be a major subject concerning corruption and integrity in the 12th general election campaign, which I will dwell another time.

In July 2003, the ACA announced a new policy of transparency to be more responsive towards public demand for information about its investigations, viz:

• The ACA will keep all complainants informed on the status of investigations into their reports if they want it.

• Heads of government departments will be informed of the decision of the Attorney-General on investigations involving their subordinates.

• The ACA will issue statements about cases that are still under investigation if it feels necessary, including those already decided by the Attorney-General.

However, after 11 years, I have still to get a proper report on the status of ACA investigations into my June 1997 report to the ACA as to how Ling Hee Leong, son of Liong Sik, could at the age of 27 embark on corporate acquisitions exceeding RM1.2 billion in a matter of months and whether there had been improper use and influence of his father’s political and Ministerial position.

This is the first double test – not only of the four-year Report Card of Prime Minister Abdullah but also the integrity and character of the Barisan Nasional slate of candidates.