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ACA should  not practise double standards and publicly give a report on  the progress of its  six-year investigation into Ling Liong Sik and Ling Hee Leong with regard to latter’s RM1.2 billion corporate acquisitions in a matter of months at the age of  27 years old Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Petaling Jaya,  Thursday): Penang Chief Minister, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon has urged all parties to accept in good faith the interim findings of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) on the allegations of power abuse against  Penang Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Dr. Hilmi Yahya as the ACA was an independent organization.  Tsu Koon’s claim that the ACA is an independent organization can only belong to a tiny minority in Malaysia, as any independent opinion poll will show that the overwhelming majority of Malaysians think otherwise. The ACA’s statement on Monday (July 21) exonerating Hilmi  of any abuse of power was not calculated to enhance public confidence in its independence, professionalism and integrity for at least two reasons:  The announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a day earlier at Kepala Batas that the ACA would issue a statement on its investigations on Hilmi, raising questions  whether the ACA acted in strict independence and professionalism without any influence from the government; The lightning speed with which ACA could come to an interim finding to be made public about the innocence of Hilmi after completion of 85 per cent of the probe,  setting a new Guinness Book of Records for anti-corruption investigations as it has taken the ACA less than two weeks from the start of its probe. Abdullah’s announcement 24 hours earlier and the manner and speed of the ACA finding  raised the question whether the ACA’s exoneration of  Hilmi after 85 per cent of the probe in less than two weeks was rushed  under the political pressure to clear Hilmi’s name instead of complying with the principles of accountability, transparency and good governance. If the ACA wants the people to have confidence in it and accept its interim findings in good faith, it should not practise double standards and should give the public progress reports of all on-going investigations.  For instance, ACA should show that it would have no truck with  double standards and publicly give a report on  the progress of its  six-year investigation into Ling Liong Sik and Ling Hee Leong with regard to the  latter’s RM1.2 billion corporate acquisitions in a matter of months at the age of  27 years old – or it should explain how it could clear Hilmi in less than two weeks but has nothing to say on Liong Sik and Hee Leong for six long years! Six years ago on  13th June 1997, I had lodged a report which initiated ACA investigations as to how Ling Hee Leong, son of the then MCA President and Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ling 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. On 4th June 2002, I had lodged a police report at the Dang Wangi police station against Ling, asking for police investigations as to whether he had committed an offence of obstructing ACA investigations under Section 19 of the Anti-Corruption Act as a result of Soh Chee Wen's disclosures in his interview with Malaysiakini, which is an offence liable on conviction to the maximum sentence of RM100,000 fine or ten years' jail or both.   It is not myself alone, but all Malaysians, who are entitled to know the outcome of these ACA and police reports – or will ACA announce initial findings and progress reports only to exonerate political leaders in the Barisan Nasional? (24/7/2003) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman