The government's decision to drop further investigations into two corruption cases is illogical, irrational and insulting to the public's intelligence. It mocks the prime minister's occasional tears over corruption and forces the public to wonder whether the PM's "emotional earnest" has been but mere theatrics.

It reduces the deputy prime minister's recent statement that "the government has zero tolerance for corruption" to only but political rhetoric. Parliament has been told that the government does not intend to prosecute International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz and former chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik for corruption.

This decision was conveyed by Rais Yatim in a written reply to a query. The reason given was that "the evidence against them was unsubstantiated" (!). A look at the facts surrounding this controversy (or circus?) will show how absurd the government's justification is.

On July 9, 1999, Anwar Ibrahim had filed a police report alleging interference of justice by the prime minister, the then attorney-general Mohktar Abdullah and the then public prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail.

Anwar had claimed that they had shielded Rafidah and Rahim Thamby from being prosecuted in court for corruption.

Anwar substantiated his allegations by producing two documents of the prosecution division, AG's office, which were handed to him when he was deputy prime minister, by Mohktar at the end of 1995.

The documents were dated March 14, 1995 — and more importantly, it was signed and endorsed by Abdul Gani.

The document concerning Rafidah clearly stated there was prima facie basis to prosecute her under Section 2(2), Emergency Ordinance 22, 1970 in connection with her duties as minister for international trade and industry.

Anwar said the AG being satisfied with the investigations carried out by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), was ready to prosecute Rafidah on five corruption charges. They were in connection with the allotment of 1.5 million Leader Universal Holdings Bhd shares and 4,173,190 units of FACB shares to her son-in-law, Fazrin Azwar Mohd Nor.

The other document made evident that the AG's Chambers and the ACA had concluded by June 1994 that there was prima facie case to prosecute Rahim Tamby Cik on four charges of corruption based on the information supplied to the agency by the former DAP MP for Kota Melaka, Lim Guan Eng.

The prosecution did not take place, (and as Anwar had alleged in his police report) due to the interference by the prime minister. It did not take very long for the documents to appear on the Internet. The issue was also hotly debated in the Parliament and highlighted in the media.

On Jan 12, 2000, Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor (Anwar's former political secretary) was arrested under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) for leaking both the documents which were already an "open secret".

During his trial, Ezam admitted to reading out the documents at a press conference in 1999. He asserted that his disclosure was a duty and in the public's interest. On Aug 7 this year, Ezam was convicted and jailed for violating the OSA by exposing the two secret documents. He was given a two-year jail sentence by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court.

The court of public opinion viewed the court case as the government's political victimisation of Ezam. It was also seen as evidence that government was condoning corruption by its ministers and officials.

The trial had not only made the two secret documents even more public, it confirmed the existence and authenticity of the documents implicating the two politicians. It became very clear to the public that the ACA had found substantial and substantiated evidence enough to recommend criminal proceedings against the two.

So convincing and complete was the ACA report, that the agency's recommendation was supported by the AG's chambers. Now the AG has the audacity to tell the whole nation that documents which he had once endorsed contain "unsubstantiated" evidence!

And the de facto law minister has the temerity to expect the public and parliament to accept such a "silly" excuse which not only throws doubt but also insults the competence and credibility of the ACA.

Yet it is Rais Yatim who once proclaimed that he has "no doubt at all the ACA is competent and will continue to be competent to do the assigned job of eradicating corruption in the country". Stop taking the rakyat for a ride, Rais.

The prime minister was very right when he said there is no more justice in this world. But even sadder still is the fact that in Malaysia, there is no longer any sense of shame in those who blatantly violate and hinder justice.