Aliran is shocked to read that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had ordered the former Anti-Corruption Agency head to close his investigation against ex-Economic Planning Unit head Ali Abul Hassan Sulaiman.

This shocking news was disclosed in open court by Shafee Yahya who also revealed that when the ACA raided Ali's office in 1998, they discovered large sums of cash in his drawers which could not be accounted for.

Action to raid Mahathir's "senior officer's office" was apparently taken following "an official complaint by an aggrieved party" and what was undertaken "was officially required of the ACA."

Aliran is at a loss to understand why this investigation wasn't allowed to take its natural course.

From the evidence, it would appear that there was an element of corruption involved. If that was so, shouldn't this investigation have been allowed to unearth this element of corruption and expose the guilty party?

Are we serious in fighting corruption? Mahathir himself had reviled and ranted - and even shed tears - against corruption and money politics. Why then did he abort this investigation?

Anwar Ibrahim was charged and convicted for abusing his position and influence - which constituted corruption - in ordering the police to do his bidding.

How different was Mahathir's alleged conduct from the abuse-of-power charges filed against Anwar? Didn't Mahathir, according to court evidence, use his position and power to order that the case against his "senior officer" be closed - in spite of "an official complaint" and evidence produced by the raid?

Thinking Malaysians would say that Mahathir must also be guilty of corruption.

Aliran will not call upon the police to investigate Mahathir - it would be an exercise in futility. Aliran will not ask the Attorney General to explain this obvious case of double standards because the A-G has absolute discretion, which cannot be challenged.

Aliran, however, will bemoan this lack of accountability by the authorities and appeal to the conscience of every, thinking, caring and feeling Malaysian to pray for our country.