It is one year today since the infamous assault on Anwar. It took place within the sanctity of Bukit Aman on 20 September 1998. Bukit Aman is no ordinary place. It is the most sensitive nerve centre which controls and monitors the security of the nation. Nothing that is significant happens anywhere in the country without Bukit Aman knowing it first.

Yet a terrible violence took place within the walls of Bukit Aman. It almost claimed a life.

Two committees set up by the police, one after the other, drew a blank. Amazingly, nobody seemed to know who perpetrated this violence on a helpless handcuffed and blindfolded Anwar that night.

The first committee, after much foot-dragging, submitted a report to the AG who announced that the police was responsible for the assault but was unable to pinpoint the culprit. It was a silly announcement. It doesn't need an investigation committee or four months to arrive at this conclusion. Any layman would have told the AG that it must have been the work of the police. If it was not the police, who else would have been responsible? Does anybody else have easy access to this police sanctum?

While the seriously injured Anwar was writhing in pain and agony without any medical detention, the Inspector General of Police assured an anxious nation that Anwar was safe and sound. That was a damnable lie.

When Anwar appeared in court on 29 September 1998 nursing a blue-black eye, Dr Mahathir even had the temerity to say that the injury could have been self-inflicted. The politician in Dr Mahathir took over. The meticulous medical assessment required for a qualified opinion was sacrificed for political expediency. That was a wicked act.

Let us assume that Dr Mahathir indeed did not know of the assault on 20 September. Let us dismiss any speculation that he ordered the assault. There is no evidence to support this speculation. But it is an irrefutable fact that he knew of the assault like any of us on 29 September.

Did he try to establish who was responsible for this criminal conduct? Wouldn't it be reasonable to expect him as Prime Minister and Home Minister to ask the IGP about Anwar's injuries? As a responsible person, he must have. And what was the IGP's reply?

Could the IGP have dared to say that he did not know? Assuming that was what he had said, would Dr Mahathir have been satisfied with that silly answer? Wouldn't he have ordered the IGP to find out immediately and report to him within 24 hours? And would anybody have defied that order?

If Dr Mahathir claims that his instructions did not expose the culprit, then he must be the biggest laughing-stock in the country. Is it possible to withhold this information not only from the Home Minister but also from the Prime Minister as well? Is it believable?

In the event the IGP was indeed unable to throw any light, wouldn't the Home Minister have summoned whosoever was in the vicinity of Anwar's lock-up for questioning? After all there wasn't a whole regiment present -- only a few selected and trusted personnel would have been around. Did he haul them up? If not, why not?

Didn't he call up several people for questioning before coming to the conclusion that Anwar was lacking in character and morality to succeed him? He claimed that he had to be satisfied fully before deciding. The medical doctor in the politician insisted on this for evidence is necessary.

Is it possible for such a man not to be thorough in wanting to find out? A person like Dr Mahathir is expected to get to the root of the problem. He is not someone who will throw up his hands in defeat.

Let's give him the maximum benefit of our doubt. Let's accept in good faith that he was not able to unravel the mystery of the assailant -- in spite of his best efforts, despite every authority and facility at his disposal.

But then, when the IGP finally owned up that he was the villain who threw those cowardly lethal blows, what did the Home Minister do? He did not accept moral responsibility and resign honourably. Apparently such a noble course of action is not in our culture!

Did he call up all those who were privy to this information but lied through their teeth? Did he institute disciplinary action against those who withheld information and frustrated the due process of the law? Should such irresponsible and unworthy personnel who brought shame to the entire police force and disgraced their uniform be allowed to remain in service? Should these unsavoury characters be permitted to keep their rank?

Why are these unexemplary characters being sheltered and protected and not prosecuted?

Dr Mahathir must come out clean and tell the nation what did he do to arrive at the truth of the assault?

He must clarify to the nation as to when he found out the identity of the assailant.

He owes an explanation why no disciplinary action was taken against those who aided and abetted in covering up a lie.

Is it in our culture not to tell the truth?