Media activitist Ahmad Lutfi Othman today urged de facto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim to make public the 'real reasons' hindering authorities from acting on high-profile corruption and white-collar crimes.

He said Rais who has personally encountered the 'barrier' while attempting to resolve the high profile cases has a duty to inform the public.

"I was told that Rais had personally faced the barrier while pursuing the relevant authorities into taking further action against these high-profile individuals who have been investigated for corruption and other crimes.

"Let him explain his personal experience to the people. The public deserves to know the real reason that caused these important cases to be downplayed by the authorities and the prosecution," said Lutfi.

He said Rais' criticism should not be targeted at the authorities like the police and Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), but at government leaders whom he believed were the real decision-makers calling the shots on the handling of these high-profile cases.

Lutfi who is now a political writer told malaysiakini that although the investigating officers were given the freedom to conduct their investigations professionally, they do not have a say on whether the suspects could be charged in court or not.

Referred to PM

He believed that many investigations involving high-profile individuals and politician were often referred to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for an 'order' and further instructions on how the case is to proceed.

"I was informed that the officers would complete their investigation and prepare a report which would eventually reach the PM. Once it reaches there, [if he so chooses] the development of a case stops although there may be ample evidence," he said.

He claimed that his investigations and complaints against Selangor Mentri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo's corruption allegations suffered a similar fate when the Attorney-General's chambers referred it to the prime minister.

"A reliable informant told me that the investigations against Khir have been completed and that there were enough evidence for further action. The report was sent to the AG's chambers and then referred to PM before he took his one-month leave. But since then nothing happened," he said.

He suspected that the information were kept and used later, as and when the need arises.

"This is one of the main reasons why many investigating officers are not committed in their investigations into high-profile suspects. They dislike being used by politicians and their work used as a political tool," he added.

Last week, Rais criticised the authorities for sitting on criminal breach of trust cases involving certain individuals or organisations. He said that though the cases generated a lot of publicity at the start of the investigation and proof of irregularities existed, nothing happened.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi claimed no directive was ever issued to any authority to stop the investigation of high-profile cases. He said every case would be investigated thoroughly and fairly by the police and the ACA and appropriate action would be taken against those involved.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad also claimed on Sunday that the authorities have probed these cases "without fear or favour" and that the public should not assumed that those who are associated with the government were immune to punishment.

Double standards

DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang however said Mahathir's statement would not change the public's perception that there was double standards in the enforcement of law.

He urged the cabinet when it meets tomorrow to seriously consider Rais' complaint about the 21 yet-to-be concluded high-profile cases without the presence of the ministers who have been implicated in some of the cases.

Police reports have been lodged against Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik and International Trade and Industrial Minister Rafidah Aziz.

"A post-cabinet announcement should be made tomorrow as to the status of the cases and the number and identity of ministers who withdrew from the cabinet discussion because they have outstanding police reports lodged against them," he said.

He said that it would be a tragic and pathetic if the cabinet does not discuss Rais' allegations as there are too many inconclusive police reports against the ministers themselves.

He said among the unsolved cases were the RM10 billion Perwaja scandal, the misappropriation of RM36.5 million from the hardcore poor fund for Kelantan and Terengganu, mismanagement of Malaysia Airlines and, mismanagement of Tabung Haji's RM201 million investment funds.