The Anti-Corruption Agency today recorded a statement from PKR de facto leader
Anwar Ibrahim over the VK Lingam video clip.
Two ACA officers spent almost two hours interviewing the opposition leader at
his office in Petaling Jaya.
The officers, who refused to identify themselves to the press, arrived at 3.30pm
and left at about 5.15pm.
Anwar is the third known individual who has been quizzed over the video which
purportedly detailed a conversation involving senior lawyer Lingam brokering
judicial appointments.
From the context of the conversation, Anwar, who exposed the video on Sept 19,
claimed that the person at the end of the line was current Chief Justice Ahmad
Fairuz Abdul Halim.
Following his meeting with the ACA officers, Anwar told reporters later that it
was a cordial meeting and that he was quizzed on the identity of the source.
Personal security
Anwar said he told the officers that the sources had promised to disclose
everything if a royal commission of inquiry is established to investigate the
alleged offences in the video clip.
“Then, at least they (the sources) know that there is immunity and they would
have more confidence,” he said.
He said the ACA officers informed him that witnesses would be protected under
Section 53 of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 but Anwar claimed that this was
insufficient.
The law, which he had introduced during his tenure as deputy prime minister,
allowed information about whistleblowers to be withheld, even in court
proceedings.
“But it cannot guarantee personal security,” he said, adding that he had
undertaken a guarantee of the sources’ safety.
“They (the sources) know that the system has failed them in the past. They have
protected ministers and corporate leaders who are corrupt,” he added.
Royal commission
To a question, Anwar said he was not served a notice by the ACA compelling him
to revealing the identity of the sources.
Yesterday, PKR vice president R Sivarasa and Anwar’s aide Sim Tze Tzin were both
served with such notices.
They are liable to a two-year jail term or RM10,000 fine if they fail to
disclose the names by Oct 9.
Commenting on this, Anwar said the party would decide on its next course of
action soon.
Anwar said there was enough reason for the ACA to expand its investigations to
those individuals mentioned in the video because a Malaysiakini report
verified some of the claims made by Lingam in the video.
“It all tallies. It must mean that either Lingam is in the know, or he is a
astrologer,” he quipped.
Anwar stressed that PKR was demanding a royal commission because the government-
established three-member panel admitted that it had no powers to initiate a
proper investigation.
The panel appointed by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is tasked with
looking into the authenticity of the video.
“Is it just to report to Najib? Is that the intention? I appeal to the panel
members to take a position and support the demand for a royal commission,” he
said.
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Talk on Intellectual Property Law (10 Feb 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, the talk on “Intellectual Property Law” will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 10 Feb 2012 (Friday). The talk will feature Bahari Yeow Tien Hong. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings (21 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, the seminar on “The Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings”, featuring Sanjeev Kumar Rasiah, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 21 Feb 2012 (Tuesday). Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Conveyancing (24 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar featuring Jeremiah R Gurusamy will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 24 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Mediation Skills Training Course (29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012) Organised by Bar Council, the Mediation Skills Training Course will take place at 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, at Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012 (Wednesday to Sunday). Deadline for registration and payment is 17 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on “Land Fraud: An Australian Perspective” (13 Mar 2012) Organised by IGIL, GSGSG and UUM COLGIS, this free talk featuring Quintin George Rozario of Delta Law, Brisbane, Australia, will take place at 9:00 am, at Dewan Seminar A, Pusat Konvensyen, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, on 13 Mar 2012 (Tuesday). To RSVP, contact Mr Abutt (04-928 4397; abutt@uum.edu.my).
Notices 
Anwar said he told the officers that the sources had promised to disclose
everything if a royal commission of inquiry is established to investigate the
alleged offences in the video clip.
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Circular No 019/2012: Change of Address for Pejabat Pengarah Tanah dan Galian Wilayah Persekutuan
