An opposition leader today challenged Minister of International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz to take legal action against those who were said to have slandered her regarding claims that she was on the Anti-Corruption Agency's to-be-charged list.

"I welcome Rafidah's action against any opposition leader who is said to be guilty as a result of wrongful accusations (against her)," said Dr Syed Husin Ali, who is deputy leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan).

"As a leader of Keadilan who had been mentioned by a number of newspapers on this matter, I would like to reiterate that the ACA and the police should immediately investigate Rafidah and charge her in court after evidence (of wrongdoing) has been gathered," he said in a statement.

The ACA has been investigating Rafidah since 1994 on her alleged involvement in connection to the allotment of bumiputera shares worth millions - 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.

Rais: Case closed

However, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim told Parliament two years ago that the government would not be able to prosecute Rafidah - as well as former Melaka chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik - as there was not enough evidence against them.

He added that the evidence "did not fulfil the standard of proof" required to bring the duo to court

"Therefore, the investigations on the two cases have been dropped," stated the de facto law minister in a written reply to a query from DAP member of parliament Kerk Kim Hock on Oct 3, 2002.

"According to his discretion, the attorney-general (Abdul Gani Patail) under Section 145 (3) of the federal constitution has no plans to challenge the decision made on those two cases," Rais said.

Rais was referring to the ACA's decision that there was a prima facie case to prosecute both Rafidah and Rahim on five and four counts of corruption respectively.

Anwar's police report

Meanwhile, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang today said the ACA must give a satisfactory accounting of its investigations into high-profile cases of corruption.

"This is particularly pertinent now that Rais has admitted to at least another 18 high-profile corruption cases...," said the opposition leader.

On Saturday, Rais told the Star that at least another 18 cases involving "high-ranking individuals and decision makers", which include a few cabinet ministers, were awaiting further action [See chart below] .

This followed last week's arrests of Landsand Cooperative Development Minister Kasitah Gaddam and Eric Chia, the ex-chief of steel giant Perwaja.

Lim said the public is entitled to know the outcome of the police report lodged by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim on July 9, 1999, which alleged interference of justice by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in shielding Rafidah from being prosecuted in court.

Secret documents

He said Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor was convicted and sentenced to two years jail under the Officials Secrets Act for exposing secret documents of corruption investigations, including one pertaining to Rafidah the same document referred to by Anwar in his police report.

"Ezam's conviction ... could only mean the truth and veracity of the allegations by Anwar in his police report on Rafidah and if this is the case, what is the outcome of the ACA investigations into Anwar's report?" asked Lim.

Anwar had alleged that despite ACA's recommendation to prosecute Rafidah and Rahim, no action was taken by the then attorney-general Mohtar Abdullah and Mahathir.

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