An Anti-Corruption Agency whistleblower has no doubt that he was subjected to an immediate transfer and reduced to do menial tasks on the instructions of the then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad despite the latter's denial yesterday.

"Who else would give such a directive?" asked the former Sabah ACA chief Mohamad Ramli Abdul Manan when contacted today.

Ramli said the ACA director general Zulkipli Mat Noor would have not dared to act on his own in such a "reckless and blatant manner" against a senior ACA official if there was no directive from the top.

Ramli had previously claimed that he was cold-storaged after being given an immediate transfer from Sabah to Putrajaya for investigating a corruption case against former land and cooperative development minister Kasitah Gaddam.

Mahathir denied issuing the directive and asked Ramli to substantiate his claims with evidence.

Ramli however stood by his claims.

"As far as I am concerned, that is my version as told by ACA senior officers and from the facts gleaned," he said.

"Mine is the first of its kind where a senior ACA state director has been removed from office within 78 hours and is not given a similar post on transfer, and was put in cold storage."

Ramli stole the media limelight in recent weeks after a report penned by him containing allegations ranging from corruption to a sexual assault against Zulkipli was revealed by a corruption watchdog.

His report has now resulted in Zulkipli being investigated by the authorities.

Committing an offence

At a press conference yesterday, Mahathir also denied any knowledge of Zulkipli's alleged corrupt practices and sexual crimes.

The former premier said he thought Zulkipli was clean and was the appropriate person to head the ACA.

Apart from denying he was behind the transfer of Ramli, Mahathir also dismissed Ramli's claim that the ACA cases must get his approval before prosecution in court.

"Nonsense, you mean I spend my time for doing all that work?" Mahathir had told reporters.

Ramli however was not impressed by Mahathir's responses.

"With Mahathir, he will always deny," he said, adding that the former premier had no choice but to deny such allegations.

"Why should he admit? Some or all the allegations made against him are very serious if proven (guilty), namely using his office for his pecuniary interest.

"It is an offence under section 15 of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997. It would be suicidal if he admits. He has to deny," Ramli argued.

Ramli said his short-notice transfer was a major contention in his suit filed against six relevant parties, including the ACA director-general. In the suit, he is arguing that the transfer was illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

Dr M must explain

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang asked Mahathir to testify before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity next Thursday.

The committee is scheduled to hear from Zulkipli and Ramli on the corrupt and sexual allegations made by the latter.

Lim, who is a member of the committee, said Mahathir should explain on the claims that he was the one who had instructed Ramli immediate transfer.

"Mahathir should now promote a culture of accountability, transparency and integrity by agreeing to appear before the committee," the opposition leader said in a statement today.

By doing so, Lim said, Mahathir would be setting a good example in requiring top government leaders, past and present, to account for their lack of or good governance practices.