Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang took Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to task for not knowing the identity of the cabinet minister accused of corruption in a report submitted by anti-corruption watchdog, Gerak.

He also attacked Abdullah's National Integrity Plan, which is an encompassing government blueprint for a cleaner government. Lim said this has "fallen to the bottom of his (Abdullah's) agenda."

"Is it credible that a prime minister who is serious about his pledge and commitment to make anti-corruption his top priority can allow 10 days to pass without bothering to find out who was the (allegedly corrupt) Umno cabinet minister," he said in a statement today.

Last month, Movement for Democracy and Anti-Corruption (Gerak) submitted to the Prime Minister's Office a 632-page report containing allegations of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation involving a senior cabinet minister.

The report contained documental evidence including police reports lodged by a listed company against the minister in the 1980s, statements from the Companies Commission of Malaysia and receipts and invoices amounting to millions of ringgit.

Gerak chairperson Ezam Mohd Noor claimed that the minister, an Umno member, had used public company funds amounting to RM30 million to clear personal debts. Ezam did not name the minister out of a verbal agreement with the PM's department.

Pass the buck

Yesterday, Abdullah told reporters that he did not know who the minister is, but said he was informed of the report and said he would "study it."

In his statement, Lim asked whether Abdullah's officers had prepared a gist of the allegations in the report for him, or "is Abdullah going to read the entire 632-page memorandum himself?"

"If Abdullah takes 10 days to state publicly that he is aware ... how long more would he need to announce what he proposes to do about it?" asked Lim.

"Or will he just pass the buck and kick the football elsewhere, starting a merry-go-round which will drag out the issue in an inconclusive manner for the next few years?"

Gerak said it took six months to compile documents linking the minister to corruption.