Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang today questioned the conferment of the 'Tun' award on former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik as reports lodged to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) against the latter still looms.

"This is matter of great public interest, as the ACA had not been able to give a full and satisfactory accounting of its investigations into reports involving Ling and his son Hee Leong's RM1.2 billion corporate acquisitions in a matter of months in 1996 and whether there had been improper influence by his father," Lim said in a statement today.

Ling, also a former transport minister, was embroiled in a controversy over business deals involving Hee Leong and businessman Soh Chee Wen.

Ling was conferred the 'Tun' today in conjunction with the King's birthday.

Lim initially lodged a report in 1997 against Ling and Hee Leong but he was informed by ACA deputy director of investigations Ahmad Mandus last July that the case had been closed.

The next day it was reported in a Malay daily quoting Ahmad's superior officer Nordin that investigations were still ongoing as the ACA had re-opened the file following a malaysiakini interview with Soh.

Entitled to know

Hee Long (left) startled the business world after buying several companies with the help of Soh (right). His father Liong Sik resigned from his party and ministerial post in May last year.

"Whichever one of the two versions is more correct, the fact remains that ACA's investigations in Ling and Hee Leong are still open and pending and not closed," Lim said.

He also called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to make a ministerial statement clearing Ling of any wrongdoing before being conferred the Tunship.

"The prime minister had said all Barisan Nasional candidates had to be cleared first by the ACA, as the Seri Setia Mahkota award which carries the title 'Tun' is the nation'ss highest conferred by the King.

"Parliament and the nation are entitled to know whether Liong Sik had been specifically cleared by the ACA for this purpose," Lim said.