Corruption, Abuse of Prosecution Powers by Attorney General, the 31
deaths in Sarawak from viral epidemic and the Multimedia Super Corridor
(MSC) will be the four major issues in next week’s Parliamentary question
time
Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang
(Petaling Jaya, Monday): Corruption,
abuse of prosecution powers by the Attorney-General, the deadly viral epidemic
in Sarawak which had killed 31 infants and the Multimedia Super Corridor
(MSC) would be four major issues in next week’s Parliamentary question
time.
My first parliamentary question when Parliament reconvenes on Monday
will be on corruption, asking the Acting Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim to report to Parliament as to "what actions and measures the
Government has taken on all fronts to launch an all-out war against corruption
whether in increasing powers to fight corruption; enhancing penalties for
corruption offences; creating an anti-corruption political culture as in
encouraging an investigative media, a more accountable public service and
more transparent procurement and pricing policies whether by government
or privatised agencies; or developing and/or strengthening anti-corruption
watchdog mechanisms."
My oral questions for next week’s Parliament includes the following:
- To ask the Prime Minister the number of Ministers, Deputy Ministers,
Parliamentary Secretaries, Mentri-Mentri Besar, Chief Ministers and State
Exco members or persons who previously held any of these positions who
are currently under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Agency; explaining
in particular the outcome of ACA investigations into former Selangor Mentri
Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Taib or why the ACA is taking so long in investigating
this case.
- To ask the Prime Minister whether the Government had asked the Attorney-General,
Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah to give a detailed reply to the serious charges
that he had committed abuse and misuse of discretionary powers under Article
145(3) to "initiate, conduct or discontinue any proceedings for
an offence" outlined both inside and outside Parliament and the
selective prosecution of the Opposition and NGO, what is the Attorney-General’s
defence, and whether in view of the fundamental importance in securing
public and international confidence in the impartiality and integrity of
the office of Attorney-General, the Attorney-General is prepared to appear
before the Dewan Rakyat to defend himself against these serious charges.
- To ask the Minister of Health to give a full report on the deadly viral
epidemic in Sarawak since the first death on April 14, why it could not
have been brought under control earlier and with less deaths and what lesson
his Ministry has learnt in future epidemic management crisis to ensure
public confidence is never lost as happened in the Sarawak viral epidemic
crisis.
- To ask the Prime Minister to give an update report of the results of
the government’s international promotion of the Multimedia Super Corridor
and what actions the government has taken to resolve the critical issues
which international IT/multimedia companies regard as barriers to their
full participation and investment in MSC.
- To ask the Foreign Minister whether the government or ASEAN had conveyed
to the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) the grave concerns
at the series of repressive actions which had been taken by the military
junta after the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur
on May 31 on the admission of Burma into ASEAN in July, resulting the worsening
rather than an improvement in the human rights situation in Burma, and
what assurances the Myanmese regime had given that it would co-operate
to make a success of ASEAN policy of constructive engagement and that admission
into ASEAN would not be taken by SLORC as a license for continued disregard
of regional and international concerns about human rights in Burma.
(7/7/97)
*Lim Kit Siang - Malaysian Parliamentary
Opposition Leader, Democratic Action Party Secretary-General & Member
of Parliament for Tanjong