The acquittal of business tycoon Eric Chia illustrates the 'failure' of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's anti-corruption drive, said PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

"The acquittal offers another stark reminder that since coming to power in 2003, Abdullah's anti-corruption drive has been an utter failure," he said in a brief statement today.

Chia, who formerly headed Perwaja Steel, was yesterday acquitted of embezzling RM76.4 million after the Sessions Court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case.

Judge Akhtar Tahir said the court was deprived of making maximum evaluation as material witnesses were not even called.

Singapore-born Chia, 74, was the first prominent person charged after Abdullah succeeded former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad amid promises to eradicate corruption.

Chia's trial opened in August 2004 after a lengthy investigation into the payment of RM76.4 million from Perwaja Steel to Japan's NKK Corporation through a non-existent company in 1994.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the court's determination that the prosecution failed to present a compelling case was wholly unsatisfactory.

He also expressed disappointment with the quality of investigation over this matter.

Who is responsible?

In a related development, PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa was also disappointed with the verdict.

"Despite accepting and respecting the decision of the judge, the party feels that the decision merely proves the weaknesses in the prime minister's war against corruption," he said in a statement.

Initially, he said Chia's case had created the impression that it was part of the high-profile cases identified by the Abdullah administration.

"However, this decision clearly proves that the war against corruption was nothing but mere political rhetoric from Umno and Barisan Nasional," he added.

Nasharudin said the failure to convict Chia has brought considerable shame to the country and will continue to stoke the negative perception of the people.

"The people will surely question that if Chia is not the culprit, then who is responsible for siphoning RM76.4 million of the people's funds," he added.