Minister Nazri Rules Out Inquiry On ACA DG; Calls NGOs 'Stupid.'

A Malaysian minister on Thursday ruled out an inquiry into graft and sexual assault allegations against the nation's top anti-corruption official, and dismissed calls for his suspension.

Nazri Abdul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said the accusations against the director-general of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) were a matter for the police. "There is only one process in this country and the process is that you make a report to the police and the police investigate ... I think these NGOs are stupid," Nazri told AFP.

"We don't need another system, independent inquiry and all that," said the minister, whose portfolio includes legal affairs.

He was responding to calls from rights groups for an independent inquiry into the allegations against Zulkipli Mat Noor, a former police chief who has been summoned to appear before a parliamentary committee on March 12.

"Unless he is charged in court, there is no need for him to be suspended from his post," Nazri added.

The accusations were originally made in a report to police in July last year by a former ACA officer, Mohamad Ramli Manan, who said Zulkipli amassed properties disproportionate to his wealth and raped a woman. Pressure mounted on Zulkipli on Thursday with reports saying police were probing allegations of corruption and sexual assault.

Zulkipli said he was ready to explain himself and provide detailed evidence to refute the allegations, state Bernama news agency reported on Thursday. "I don't want to be emotional over the matter. Instead, I will still do the job as usual as the director-general and conduct daily meetings with my staff," Zulkipli said, according to Bernama. He has reportedly said that past police investigations had cleared him.

Parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang on Thursday called for Zulkipli to be sacked for allegedly lying about the charges, which he said made Malaysia a "laughing stock."

But Nazri denied the accusations had damaged Malaysia's reputation or dented Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ongoing anti-corruption campaign.
"Allegations can be made against anybody," he said, adding there had also been claims against Abdullah as well as other ministers. "Should we all be concerned because the allegations are made? I don't think so," he said.

Abdullah was elected on an anti-corruption platform in 2004 but critics say his efforts, and those of the ACA, have yielded few results. (Channel Newsasia)

****** Never have I seen Nazri so out of touch with reality. Even BN leaders and others have privately voiced their apprehension that the authorities are dragging the issue. It's not a big deal suspending the ACA DG. By calling the NGOs stupid and denying that the allegations have damaged Malaysia's reputation, it is Nazri who is making a fool of himself and at that the same time giving the impression that the government is not serious in its claim of checking corruption while attempting to shield the errant officer.
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