I would like to refer to the recent media reports that the EPF was almost conned into purchasing for RM15 million a bankrupt company.

I think this is the greatest joke and tragedy of 2007 for the Barisan Nasional government. Let me remind your readers that for any public office in any country, the purchase of anything must be carefully scrutinised and documented for the sake of public accountability.

Yet, in Malaysia we have again created history by such a shoddy and tardy investment decision with no consideration of accountability. This is especially tragic when it involved a huge sum of money in the millions of ringgit that belongs to the Malaysian workers.

It is a wonder how the EPF investment board can make such a quick decision based on hearsay without further investigation into the background of the company. This in contrast to the rules imposed upon many of us who when withdrawing our EPF money for buying houses or other legitimate uses, have to submit endless documents to satisfy the probing and investigating culture of the EPF operations.

With such everyday rules in place, it cannot help but challenge us to think that there was hanky-panky and dishonesty present in the transaction involving the bankrupt company.

EPF truly deserves a thorough investigation by the Anti-Corruption Agency. I also strongly urge Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to terminate the services of those in the EPF responsible for such incompetent behaviour.