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ACA should not fail its own standard of new transparency and announce outcome or status report of its investigations into the 1999 corruption  report lodged by Anwar Ibrahim on Rafidah Aziz Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Petaling Jaya,  Monday): International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz was reported as having warned opposition leaders that she would sue them if they slander her “to their  whims” (Bernama), which she is clearly entitled to do.  I for one do not believe in slandering Rafidah or any Cabinet Minister, but I do maintain that the government, in particular the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), owe the Malaysian public the duty of transparency and a satisfactory accounting of investigations into high-profile cases concerning corruption and abuses of power.  This is particularly pertinent now that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim has admitted to at least another 18 high-profile corruption cases, including reaching Cabinet Minister level. (Mingguan Malaysia)  For instance, the Malaysian public are entitled to know the outcome of the  first police report against corruption in high places lodged by former Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on July 9, 1999, which  alleged interference of justice  by  the then Prime Minister and   the former Attorney General Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah  in shielding Rafidah Aziz  from being  prosecuted in court on five corruption charges.   Anwar referred to a document of the Prosecution Division, Attorney General's Office dated 14 March, 1995, which was  handed to  him  when he was Deputy Prime Minister by the then Attorney General, Mohtar Abdullah towards the end of 1995. The document clearly stated there was prima facie basis to prosecute Rafidah Aziz on five counts of corruption under Section  2(2) Emergency Ordinance  22, 1970 in connection with her duties as Minister for International Trade and Industry.   Anwar said in his report that the then  Attorney General being satisfied with the investigations carried out by the Anti-Corruption Agency was ready to prosecute Rafidah Aziz on five corruption charges in connection with the allotment  of 1.5 million Leader Universal Holdings Bhd. shares and   4,173,190 units of  FACB shares to her son-in-law, Fazrin Azwar bin Mohd. Nor but  this was not done because of the interference by the then  Prime Minister. So far, the ACA has not revealed the outcome of its investigations into Anwar’s report on Rafidah. Had the ACA questioned or informed Anwar about the outcome of his police report on Rafidah Aziz, as the ACA had announced a new policy of transparency in July last year to be more responsive towards public demand for information about its investigations, including keeping all complainants informed on the status of investigations as well as issuing statements about cases under investigations which are of public interest.  In August 2002, Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor was convicted and sentenced to two years jail by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court  for committing an offence under the Officials Secrets Act (OSA), viz.  for exposing secret documents of corruption investigations, including one pertaining  to Rafidah Aziz – the very same document referred to by Anwar in his police report. Ezam’s conviction under the Official Secrets Act could only mean the truth and veracity of the allegations by Anwar  in his police report on Rafidah Aziz – and if this is the case, what is the outcome of the ACA investigations into Anwar’s report? The ACA should not fail its own standard of new transparency and should announce the outcome or status  report of its investigations into the 1999 corruption  report lodged by Anwar on Rafidah Aziz. Incidentally, why has Rafidah not taken any action to sue Anwar in the past five years for defamation for his police report against her in July 1999?  (16/2/2004) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman