DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz has responded in Parliament that the attorney-general has no power to indemnify any person against criminal action based on political considerations.

abdul rahim tamby chik interview 030805 thinking However, Lim yesterday noted the minister has yet to answer other allegations brought up by former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim, such as that no action was taken against former Malacca CM Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik ( left ), despite evidence provided by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).

Lim said Mat Zain had brought up the issue in his open letter to Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar, that he must ensure that investigation into the sex video scandal is carried out free of political or other forms of pressure.

Based on the open letter, Lim posed three questions in Parliament:

  • Can the attorney-general indemnify someone of any criminal offence based on political considerations?
  • Is it all right for the attorney-general to release RM40 million to Rahim without taking any appropriate action?
  • Is it fair for the people when the Attorney-General's Chambers had alluded the possibility the money was obtained through abuse of power and corruption?

NONE Lim ( right ) said Nazri had answered the first question but wanted time to look into the other allegations made by Mat Zain.

"Not only are the MPs, but all Malaysians are also waiting anxiously for Nazri's answers," the veteran Ipoh Timur MP said.

He said these questions must be answered to ensure transparency, especially since Mat Zain was the officer who probed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's "black eye" assault, and had handled four police reports lodged by Anwar against former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the then attorney-general Mohtar Abdullah, and the then head of prosecution Abdul Gani Patail, for possible abuse of power.

This follows no action being taken against Rahim, although the Anti-Corruption Agency had compiled enough evidence to prove a prima facie case against the former Umno Youth chief for corruption involving money and shares worth RM40 million.

Mat Zain alleged that Rahim was not prosecuted in exchange for the former chief minister resigning from all government and political party posts.