Twenty-five senior government leaders, some as high up as minister and deputy minister, are being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Parliamentary secretary in the Prime Minister's Department, Noh Omar made this revelation in response to a Backbencher's supplementary question during the answer-and-question session.

Abdul Hamid Abdul Rahman (BN-Sungai Benut) asked for clarification o­n opposition parties' allegations that ACA had been biased by not taking action against government leaders accused of corruption and for allegedly "protecting (government) cronies".

ACA's commitment proven

In his reply, Noh said the integrity of the ACA should not be challenged as it had acted impartially, investigating even high-ranking government servants.

"ACA's commitment in taking action can be proven as investigations have been taken against the top leadership, regardless of whether they are in the federal government or the state government. Some of them have been even referred to court.

"As of March 23 this year, a total of 25 (whose positions range from) minister, deputy minister, menteri besar, chief minister, state exco member and state assembly representative, are under ACA's investigation," he said.

"The government is happy with the performance of the ACA," he added.

However, he stressed that the investigations are based o­n reports received by the agency and those under investigation are not necessarily criminals.

Among those being investigated is Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik ( photo ) - who is also the MCA president - for alleged involvement in commercial offences

Confidential probe

Last week, in a written reply to DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, the Prime Minister's Department however said the investigation against the MCA chief is confidential

and details would not be made public until charges are filed in court.

Kok had questioned the department for not taking action against Ling o­n the latter's alleged involvement in commercial offences and other legal suits.

Ling came into the picture when a police report was lodged by a foreign investor o­n January, claiming Ling - with his son, Hee Leong and high-profile businessman Soh Chee Wen - owed the investor RM100 million from a business deal.

Soh ( photo ), a former close associate of Ling, had filed a writ of summons against the latter too o­n January. Soh is seeking to claim losses amounting to RM149.2 million that he lent to Ling and Hee Leong's company, Linksun Avenue.

The ACA is organisationally structured under the Prime Minister's Department. It is headed by a director-general who is appointed by the King o­n the advice of the prime minister, as outlined in the Anti-Corruption Act 1997.

The headquarters of the agency is located at the federal administrative centre Putrajaya.

The act was passed in the Parliament in July 1997 and provides ACA with more investigative powers and enhances punishment o­n offenders, which the minimum sentence for corruption is a mandatory 14-day imprisonment and a RM10,000 fine, or five times the amount of bribe.