©Malaysiakini
(Used by permission)
by Chua Sue–Ann
Senior lawyer VK Lingam must have been "mad or drunk", said
Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor in denying any involvement in the
appointment of judges as suggested in the VK Lingam tape.
Tengku Adnan was the 10th witness appearing before the royal commission tasked
with probing the controversial video exposed by opposition party PKR last
September.
In the grainy 14–minute clip, recorded in late 2001, Lingam had mentioned Tengku
Adnan’s name 11 times.
The lawyer, who was purportedly talking to former chief justice Ahmad Fairuz
Sheikh Abdul Halim, had suggested that Tengku Adnan, who was then a deputy
minister in the prime minister’s department, could flex his influence on former
premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the appointment of ‘friendly’ judges.
When commissioner Mahadev Shankar asked the minister why he had not called
up Lingam after viewing the clip to clear his name, Tengku Adnan said he did not
think it was necessary.
“I think the man (Lingam) is either mad or drunk. I didn’t bother to call him.
It must be untrue,” said the minister who appeared to be peeved by the question.
Name used in vain
Earlier, Tengku Adnan was quizzed on his alleged involvement in the appointment
of judges by Bar Council lawyer Christopher Leong.
Responding to a question from the lawyer, he said Lingam had used his name in
vain.
Leong: (As per the transcript the speaker (Lingam) refers to facts ... and states that his
source of information is yourself.
‘The CJ (Dzaiddin Abdullah) said his relative is now the Agong, so he wants
to stay on to 68, so, Tengku Adnan said – I told Tengku Adnan, yesterday I had a
meeting with him – he said PM is already very angry with him … and … he said no
problem, he is going to make you acting err... confirm your position as PCA
(President of Court of Appeal – judiciary’s No 2), working very hard, and then
get (the late) Tan Sri Mokhtar (Abdullah) as CJM (Chief Judge of Malaya)’
‘Ah, so we just keep it confidential. I am working very hard on it. Then
there is a letter, according to Tengku – I am going to see him tomorrow – there
is a letter sent to … ah … CJ – I mean Tan Sri Dzaiddin – that Datuk Heliliah, …er
Datuk Ramli and Datuk Maarop be made judges, and he rejected that Dr Andrew Chew
and apa itu Zainudin Ismail lah because Zainuddin Ismail who condemned your
appointment and Tan Sri Mohtar's appointment’.
Tengku Adnan: No. It’s definitely not me.
Leong: So, the speaker got the facts right but ascribed it to the wrong
person?
Tengku Adnan: Yes, I don’t know if the facts are right or wrong.
Leong: There are 11 instances where the speaker referred to you by name,
(claimed) to have spoken to you, met, called and will call you – you have denied
all these. Would you agree (that) if this were made up, he had quite an
imagination?
Tengku Adnan: I can’t say.
Leong: Why do you think that the speaker, of all the names, specifically
picks your name?
This question irked Tengku Adnan, who explained that his name had been misused
in other situations.
Tengku Adnan: (My name is used) for all sorts of things (including)
requests for donations to build mosques, masuk penjara (imprison
someone). It’s wrong! We’ve got to be fair. He can use my name (but) I do not
know. Anybody can use my name.
Mahadev: You are angry?
Tengku Adnan: I sometimes get annoyed. Being (a) human being, I just keep
it to myself. A lot of things (are) happening but we do not understand.
Leong: Has VK Lingam lied?
Tengku Adnan: I do not know.
Towards the end of his testimony, Tengku Adnan was asked by commissioner
Steve Shim if he had any other comments, to which the minister replied: “My name
is always used. I don’t know what it is. Maybe people think my name has value
... I also don’t know why this happened to me.”
Strictly business
Meanwhile, Tengku Adnan also told the commission that his relationship with
business tycoon Vincent Tan and Lingam was strictly business but could not
recall their business tie–ups.
He was responding to a list of companies mentioned by Leong to establish the
minister’s business relationship with the duo.
“I cannot remember. There were many lawyers and many businesses,” said Tengku
Adnan.
Among the companies listed by Leong were Berjaya Industrial Bhd, Berjaya
subsidiary Cosway Malaysia and Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd.
The commission also heard that Tengku Adnan had known Tan since the 1990s and
that Lingam was one of the lawyers appointed by Tan’s company.
“After I became active in politics around 1998, I sold a lot (of shares). I
can’t remember ... I had many shares (in various companies) not only in Berjaya
(companies),” said Tengku Adnan.
He also denied meeting Tan or Lingam socially or to discuss the appointment of
‘friendly’ judges.
Tengku Adnan said he only saw the Lingam tape in late September or October last
year after being informed by a friend.
He also told the commission that today was the first time he had seen the full
14–minute footage as he had only viewed the first eight minutes on Internet
video–sharing portal Youtube.
Leong then asked Tengku Adnan how he was able to identify the man featured in
the video clip as Lingam, given his earlier statement that the two had minimal
interaction.
“I only recognised him after viewing it (the video) for a while. Just like your
(Leong’s) face, after this, I will recognise it too,” he replied.
Phone records
After testifying that he does not have Lingam’s telephone number, Leong
asked if Tengku Adnan was willing to produce his 2001 telephone records.
“No problem. Why would I have a problem?” the minister replied.
Leong requested the documents be subpoenaed but commission chairperson Haidar
Mohamed Noor declined saying that the panel will take note of that appeal.
After the hour–long interrogation, Tengku Adnan patted Leong on his back and
smiled as he left the court room.
The minister was also cross–examined by deputy public prosecutor Azmi Ariffin
and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s lawyer M Puravalen.
Earlier, Tengku Adnan also told the commission that his responsibilities as
deputy minister in the prime minister’s department were, among others,
supervising the building and opening of court complexes, the National Civic
Bureau and the Anti–Corruption Agency.