An opposition leader yesterday called upon the government to promote transparency by revealing all politicians who have received land from the Selangor state administration during the tenure of Muhammad Muhammad Taib as mentri besar.

"The Umno and Barisan Nasional government should make public the full list of all politicians whether BN, or Barisan Alternatif and DAP, to prove that there have been no abuses of power and not to use the issue as an instrument of political blackmail," said DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang.

He also suggested that a list of all beneficiaries, including non-politicians, of Selangor state land under the past mentri besar be divulged.

"And the authorities must be prepared to answer any public inquiry about the propriety of any particular report," Lim said.

The position of the Selangor mentri besar has often been mired in controversy with allegations of sexual misconduct, abuse of power or corruption following each appointment.

Last week, Muhammad, who was the mentri besar from 1986 to 1997, revealed in a media report that prominent opposition leaders such as PAS vice-president Dr Hassan Ali and Keadilan supreme council member Dr Badrul Amin Bahron were given state land.

"They were all given land back then because the government thought they would be able to contribute to the people in terms of educating and motivating them.

"Unfortunately they were never thankful and have acted ungratefully," Muhammad was quoted as saying in an Utusan Malaysia report last Saturday.

Explicit or implicit condition

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad also called the opposition figures who accepted the land offers, despicable.

"It is like biting the hand that feeds you," Mahathir said.

Lim, however, disputed Mahathir and Muhammad's statements, saying no conditions should be set upon those who accepted such offers.

"Are Mahathir and Muhammad seriously suggesting that there is explicit or implicit condition that those who had been awarded land in Selangor are forever bonded and enslaved to the policies of the ruling party at the time, regardless of its abuses of power, corruption and utter disregard of the interests of the people?" Lim queried.