©The
Sun (Used by permission)
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 05, 2008): The Royal Commission of Inquiry into a
controversial video clip ruled today that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has forfeited his right to participate in the
proceedings, prompting all four of his lawyers to walk out of the hearing.
Commissioner Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong announced the ruling after Anwar
refused to apologise to the five–member commission and retract an article
published online questioning the commission's integrity.
Shim said the article contained a serious allegation against the commission and
that it was compelled to order the forfeiture of Anwar's right to participate in
the proceedings.
Commissioner Datuk Mahadev Shankar said Anwar's lawyers could participate in the
hearing but only as bystanders. He thanked them for their services.
Lawyers M. Puravalen, Mohd Yusmadi Yusof, Oh Choong Ghe and Ravi Nekko then left
the courtroom.
The commission had demanded an unqualified apology from Anwar and retraction of
his article which carried a remark that the commission was being manipulated by
an unseen hand.
It had also demanded an unqualified apology from non–governmental organisation
Aliran and retraction of a remark that it was shocked and devastated that Anwar,
PKR vice–president R. Sivarasa and PKR coordinator Sim Tze Tsin were not being
called as witnesses in the inquiry even though they had relevant evidence.
Anwar and Aliran had stated through their lawyers that they would not tender any
apology to the commission over their remarks.
In another development, Internal Security Act detainee M. Manoharan applied to
the Commission to rebut allegations by lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam that Manoharan
was instructed by Lingam's younger brother to demand money from him (Lingam).
Counsel Karpal Singh, who represented Manoharan, also a lawyer, told the inquiry
that Manoharan would limit his testimony to Lingam's allegations that he (Manoharan)
was instructed by V.K. Thirunama Karasu to demand money from Lingam.
Commission chairman Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor asked Karpal when Manoharan, who
was Thirunama Karasu's lawyer, could be produced to testify if the inquiry
allowed his application.
Karpal told the inquiry that if Manoharan could not be present physically to
give evidence as he was under ISA detention, his statutory declaration would
suffice as it was accepted by the law under Section 17 of the ISA.
Haidar, however, told Karpal Singh that the commission had no powers since the
inquiry was not a proceeding in a court of law.
He asked Karpal to sort out the matter with Attorney–General Tan Sri Abdul Gani
Patail through conducting officer Datuk Nordin Hassan.
Haidar also ordered Karpal Singh to produce a witness' statement by Manoharan
for the inquiry's perusal and to decide whether Manoharan's evidence was
relevant to the inquiry.
"The commission will look into how far the statement is relevant to the
inquiry," he said.
Manoharan, 46, along with four others, was detained under ISA on Dec 13 last
year for allegedly orchestrating illegal gatherings here on Nov 25 last year and
making seditious remarks against the government.
Commission removes Anwar's right to be represented
5 Feb 2008 12:00 am