Several opposition leaders will be quizzed by the police on Monday under the Official Secrets Act for disclosing a toll concession agreement.

Among those that have been summoned to give a statement are DAP NGO bureau chief Ronnie Liu, Parti Keadilan Rakyat information chief Tian Chua and PKR treasurer Khalid Ibrahim.

According to Liu, his notice of summon was handed over this morning at his house by a party of five policemen from Bukit Aman.

"I am required to report at the Bukit Aman police headquarter on February 5, 2007 at 10am," he said, adding that several party leaders and members will accompany him to Bukit Aman on Monday.

He added that he was told that he would be questioned under the OSA for disclosing the agreement.

Chua's summon was issued at the party's information centre in Brickfields while Khalid received his summons at his house in Damansara Heights.

When contacted, Chua said they would adhere to the summon but he challenged the government's decision to classify the document under OSA.

"I believe the police have been politically influenced to act against us," he said.

"We have previously lodged so many corruption reports but no police actions thus far," he added.

Failure to attend

According to the police summon, signed by investigating officer ASP A Rajakopal, the three are also required to hand over all documents or copies of documents related to the agreement between the government and Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd.

They were also reminded that any failure to attend on Monday was an offence under Section 11 of the Act.

The police said they are investigating the matter under Section 8 of the Act based on a police report made in Damansara. Any one found guilty of violating the Act will face a mandatory one-year jail sentence.

The three, along with PAS leader Dr Hatta Ramli, had on Jan 4 showed reporters a copy of the document pertaining to the toll concession agreement for the Damansara-Puchong Expressway.

They argued that the 200-paged secret documents showed the government had guaranteed profits to concessionaires at the expense of road users.

Following this, the Works Minister S Samy Vellu has suggested to the cabinet that the attorney-general take action against those responsible for 'stealing and exhibiting' the toll concession agreements

"It is classified secret ... a restricted document of the government," Samy Vellu was reported as saying.

The minister also said toll agreements between the government and highway concessionaires will continue to be classified as OSA, promting criticisms from opposition parties and civil society groups .

In August 2002, ex-Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor was jailed for two years for releasing secret documents regarding investigations by the Anti-Corruption Agency into former Malacca chief minister Rahim Tamby Chik and International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz.