Pas: Table White Paper on acquittal in Parliament
KOTA BARU: Pas has called for a parliamentary White Paper to be tabled over the Attorney-General’s Chambers (A-GC) justification to drop corruption charges against Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Pas secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the White Paper should be tabled in the coming Parliament sitting as it involved a member of parliament (MP) and a cabinet minister.
“Pas has been studying the whole episode with much interest.
“The A-G must exercise his powers judicially and judiciously. That is why a White Paper must be tabled in Parliament as it can help explain the issue to preserve and safeguard the integrity and dignity of the parliamentary institution,” he said yesterday.
A White Paper is an authoritative and comprehensive government report to explain certain actions or proposals.
Takiyuddin, who is also Kota Baru MP, said the corruption case involve d Lim, who is former Penang chief minister, therefore this was a public interest case that the people should know about.
He said Pas wanted the A-G to explain five things, including the criteria and justification for withdrawing corruption charges after more than 20 witnesses had been called to testify, and whether the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission was consulted.
Pas demanded to see the contents of Lim’s representation to the A-G, wanted to know whether ca se would be binding on other similar cases and the position of previous convictions in similar cases.
On Monday, Lim and businesswoman Phang Li Koon were acquitted by the Penang High Court of corruption charges over the purchase of a bungalow below market value.
MACC said it was “very shocked” by the move, claiming the decision was made by the A-GC.