An opposition motion to deduct RM10 from the salary of Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) Director-General Zulkipli Mat Noor was rejected by the Dewan Rakyat this afternoon.

The motion was tabled by Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) at the Budget 2006 committee stage debate. Lim cited several reasons to back his motion including that a salary cut was parliamentary convention to serve as a reprimand on under-performing executive personnel.

He said the ACA was the weakest link in the nation's integrity system although it supposedly played an important role. He also cited the latest corruption perception index (CPI) which had Malaysia remaining at the 39th position , the same as in 2003.

"Even though we have a prime minister who is committed in fighting corruption, we can't see any significant result in his two years in power," Lim told the House.

"And what has the ACA achieved in two years? We see big cases [...] the 18 sharks are still waiting out there although one has been arrested and now there are 17 left. Is the ACA serious in the anti-corruption campaign?" he further questioned.

He also asked why no action has been taken against ex-federal territories minister Isa Samad, who was recently suspended as Umno vice-president after being found guilty for money politics.

Name-calling again

Earlier, when Lim's motion was opened for debate after being seconded by M Kula Segaran (DAP - Ipoh Barat), Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatagan) stoood up to say that he, "100 percent disagreed with the motion".

"These are just politics and frivolous issues [...] why not you table a motion which discusses about more serious issue to let BN MPs be involved in the debate together?" the vocal backbencher said.

"This is a ' gila ' (crazy) motion, this is a motion (by) a person who is ' tak waras' (not sane)," he claimed.

Lim protested against the remark, describing Bung Moktar as " tak tahu malu " (without shame).

The motion was then debated for an hour by MPs from both sides and was wound-up by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.

Nazri said the government would continue try to improve the country CPI index and that the ACA was taking action against corruption cases accordingly.