Opposition party DAP today sought to immediately put Anti-Corruption Agency's new policy to the test by challenging the body to reveal the outcome of its six-year investigation into former MCA leader Ling Liong Sik.

"I am asking for an urgent meeting with the ACA director-general to find out the outcome of my report six years ago," said DAP leader Lim Kit Siang in a statement today.

Lim has filed a report to the anti-corruption body on June 13, 1997, to investigate how Ling Hee Leong, son of the then MCA chief, could - at the age of 27 - embark on a RM1.2 billion corporate acquisitions.

The opposition leader had asked ACA to determine whether there had been any improper use of Ling's influence as party chief and cabinet minister - he was then transport minister - to secure mega-loans for his son's astounding business ventures.

Lim had since then filed another report asking for police investigations as to whether Ling had committed an offence of obstructing ACA investigations following the disclosures by former political colleague Soh Chee Wen in his interview with malaysiakini.

Obstructing investigation

In the May 2002 interview, businessman Soh alleged that Ling had asked him not to implicate him and his wife, Ena, in the ACA probe.

Under the Anti-Corruption Act, anyone found guilty of obstructing an investigation is liable for a maximum penalty of 10 years' jail or RM100,000 fine, or both.

Soh left Malaysia in 1999 after he was charged with two offences in connection to defrauding a now defunct stockbroking firm of over RM500 million.

The controversial businessman's return on May 14 was widely seen as a trump card used by certain quarters to press for Ling's resignation as MCA president. Soh is currently out on a RM2 million bail.

Ling eventually quit all his political posts two months ago.

The ACA yesterday announced that it would adopt a number of measures to address public concern for more transparency.

It said that all complainants would now be informed on the status of its investigations into their reports.

The agency also pledged that heads of government departments would be kept up to speed on investigations involving their subordinates, and it would also issue statements about cases that are still under investigation.

"It is not myself alone, but all Malaysians, who are entitled to know the outcome of the ACA and police reports," said Lim, who is seeking a meeting with the agency director-general, Zulkipli Mat Noor.

Outraged by minister's reply

Lim said he was outraged by then deputy minister in the prime minister's department Douglas Uggah Embas' statement in Parliament that the ACA investigation into Ling were confidential, and details would not be made public until charges are filed in court.

"In March, I had called for legislative changes to require the ACA to be more forthcoming in Parliament about its investigations, particularly in outstanding cases involving VIPs in view of the numerous high-profile cases which seemed to have reached a dead end," he added.

While Lim welcomed the ACA's pledge to be more open to the public, he is nevertheless skeptical that the measures announced yesterday would lead to greater accountability and transparency in the agency.

ACA's new policy, he said, should be taken with a "big pinch of salt".