Yesterday, on his return from overseas, he expressed satisfaction with his son Ling Hee Leong’s co-operation with the Anti-Corruption Agency.
What has Ling Hee Leong done to assist the ACA in its investigations? Had Ling Hee Leong explained to ACA how he could, at the age of 27, without any corporate track record, by sheer hard work, embark on a RM1.2 billion corporate acquisitions in a matter of three months?
When asked to comment on my call to him to explain his role in his son’s corporate acquisitions, Liong Sik said: "What an enemy wants you to do, you better think very carefully. The most important thing is not to talk but to give 100 per cent co-operation".
Liong Sik has missed the point completely - that as Transport Minister, he owes to the country a full statement as to whether, and if so what, role he had played in his son’s RM1.2 billion corporate acquisitions in three months at the age of 27 especially as Ling Hee Leong had said publicly that "Ninety-nine per cent of the time I won’t do anything without my father’s blessing".
Another reason why Liong Sik should give such a full statement is another statement which Hee Leong had made publicly, in response to a journalist’s question whether being the Transport Minister’s son had given him an "unfair advantage" in the corporate world, when Hee Leong said:
"I think every father tries to open doors for his son, whoever the father may be. If he knows a few more friends, he is in a position to open a few more doors. And ‘unfair advantage’ I think, is an unfair comment. There is nothing unfair in this world. Everything is relative and unfairness is quite subjective. Those who benefit don’t feel it’s unfair but those who don’t benefit say it is."
This is the time for all Ministers to respond positively to the all-out war against corruption initiated by the Acting Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with the approval of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
Liong Sik in particular should heed the injunction of the Prime Minister that political leaders must not only be clean, but seen to be clean.
If Malaysia is to set a world example in our seriousness to fight corruption as well as the appearance of corruption, Liong Sik should be prepared to make a full public statement as to his role in his son’s phenomenal corporate wizardry in embarking on a RM1.2 billion corporate acquisitions in a matter of three months at the age of 27 without any corporate track record, especially as ninety-nine per cent of the time, Hee Leong would not do anything without Liong Sik’s blessing.
I am sad that Liong Sik regards me as an "enemy". I do not want to be his enemy and he is not my enemy. Let us both unite and be friends so that we can be enemies of corruption and the appearance of corruption.
This is why I am waiting for Liong Sik to take the first step to declare enmity against corruption and the appearance of corruption by explaining his role in his son’s RM1.2 billion corporate acquisitions in a matter of three months at the age of 27 without any corporate track record whatsoever.
Liong Sik should know that it is important he make such an explanation in view of the various rumours and speculations in the shares market about the ownership of the RM1.2 billion corporate acquisitions.
(28/6/97)