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 ©The
Star (Used by permission)
by Lourdes Charles
• Tengku Adnan nonchalant after reading Royal Commission’s
report
KUALA LUMPUR: Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has ordered a thorough
follow-up on all the findings made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the
V.K. Lingam video clip, as well as the 14-minute recording.
Abdul Gani said he had directed all the relevant authorities to immediately
commence investigations based on the commission’s findings.
“I want a fair and just investigation, not only into one or two issues but into
each and every finding highlighted by the Royal Commission,” he told The Star.
“Among areas to be investigated are the 14-minute video clip allegedly showing
lawyer V. K. Lingam brokering judicial appointments with former chief justice
Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul over the telephone and the holiday trip to New
Zealand involving former chief justice Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin and Lingam.”
Abdul Gani said he had ordered the ACA to study the video clip, which had been
sent to several experts overseas for authentication as well as for voice
confirmation.
He appealed to the public to give the ACA, the police and other agencies
involved in the probe the “space and time” to investigate without any unwanted
pressure.
“Let us do our job in peace so that we can conduct a thorough investigation into
all the recommendations,” he added, citing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi who had said he did not want any public prosecution or persecution
by the media.
Abdul Gani said he would be meeting with the relevant agencies involved from
time to time to ensure investigations were carried out without any delay.
The Royal Commission found, among other things, that:
• The video clip was authentic;
• Lingam was having a phone conversation with former chief justice Tun Ahmad
Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim;
• Lingam was actively involved in the appointment of Ahmad Fairuz as President
of the Court of Appeal, with the possible aim of his further appointment as
Chief Justice;
• Lingam had asked his close friends tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Datuk Seri
Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to involve themselves actively in the appointment of
judges, in particular the appointment of Ahmad Fairuz as the Chief Judge of
Malaya and subsequently, President of the Court of Appeal;
• The phone conversation indicated Lingam’s “uncanny knowledge” of what could be
considered as matters protected under the Official Secrets Act; and that,
• Tengku Adnan appeared to be Lingam’s “source” in the Prime Minister’s
Department.
Tengku Adnan nonchalant after reading Royal Commission’s
report
by Shahanaaz Habib
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor who
has been implicated in the V.K. Lingam video recording said he had read the
Royal Commission of Inquiry report and was “cool” about it.
The Putrajaya MP said he had “of course” read the report on Tuesday when it was
made public.
Asked how he was handling the findings of the report, he replied: “I will handle
it myself. Why do you worry? I know what to do. I can’t tell you what I want to
do.
“I’m cool, I’m okay, no problem. I’ve got to go,” he said Wednesday before
dashing into a car.
The former tourism minister had shown up in Parliament in the morning to attend
the sitting for the day.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam video recording had recommended
that he and five others be investigated.
The five are former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former chief
justices Tun Eusoff Chin and Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, tycoon Tan Sri
Vincent Tan and senior lawyer V.K. Lingam.
The Cabinet has agreed to the Attorney-General conducting investigations into
the allegations against the six.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim released the
video recording last year. It showed Lingam on the phone talking to a person
believed to be Fairuz, and discussing the “fixing” of top judiciary positions
with Dr Mahathir (the then prime minister) through Tengku Adnan and Tan.
The Royal Commission was formed on Jan 14 to probe the matter and 21 witnesses
testified in the 17-day inquiry. The Commission found the video recording to be
authentic and said a number of witnesses, including Tengku Adnan, were
unconvincing in their testimony.
The Commission completed its report two weeks ago and sent its findings to the
King and Prime Minister.
At the weekend, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the
position of Tengku Adnan as Umno secretary-general would be decided after the
Attorney-General’s investigations are completed.
He said there should be no trial by the media against the six.
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