The lead character from the popular Chinese television drama serial 'Justice Bao' took centre stage at the Dewan Rakyat today when it was suggested that a team modeled along the legendary Chinese mayor and his loyal lieutenants was needed to fight corruption and power abuse in present-day Malaysia.

According to legend, the formidable Justice Bao had a fearful six-man team comprising Zhan Zhao, Gongsun Ce, Wang Chao, Ma Han, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu to assist him in his anti-corruption battles.

"Who are our premier's Zhan Zhao, Gongsun Ce, Wang Chao, Ma Han, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu?" thundered Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang in his speech debating the motion to thank the King's opening address.

He was referring to the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's cabinet line-up.

"Is Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak his Zhan Zhao, Local Government and Housing Minister Ong Ka Ting his Gongsun Ce, Works Minister S Samy Vellu his Wang Chao, International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz his Ma Han, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Lim Keng Yaik his Zhang Long and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz his Zhao Hu?" he asked.

In drawing the analogy, the opposition leader said without a team, Justice Bao himself would have been helpless to rein corruption among involving the high and mighty.

"Similarly, without his team of anti-corruption campaigners, there is nothing Abdullah can do to make a dent on the scourge of corruption. However, well meaning he is, he would only be a lone and helpless voice," he said.

Increasing corruption

At this juncture, Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (Larut-BN) chipped in and asked Lim to explain in the national language the meaning of the Chinese words that he had used to which Lim explained that they were the names Justice Bao's aides.

Lim then challenged BN parliamentarians to stand up to show their support to the premier anti-corruption drive. His call went unheeded.

Continuing his speech, Lim cited the 18 high-profile corruption cases highlighted in the past by then Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Rais Yatim before reiterating that corruption in the country had worsened in the past 29 months since Abdullah took over the nation's helm.

He said former deputy prime minister Ghafar Baba's remark about the money politics in Umno, the systematic corruption in the police force as exposed by the Royal Police Commission and the Approved Permit scandal were examples of the spreading cancer of corruption.