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• Panel to complete video clip probe ‘within weeks’

"Muslim Lawyers Association of Malaysia has asked the Bar to call off the march...it is premature and unwise action."

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malay-sian Bar has welcomed the government's appointment of an independent panel to investigate the controversial video clip.

President Ambiga Sreenevasan, however, hoped that the panel would extend its remit beyond probing the authenticity of the video.

“The Bar sees the appointment of the panel as a positive step in response to public opinion,” she said in a statement.

Ambiga said the Bar Council was ready to co-operate to uncover the truth.

She said the Bar would continue to call for a royal commission with wider terms of reference, including looking into the present state of the judiciary and the need for a judicial appointments commission.

She said a royal commission formed under an act of parliament would have wider powers, particularly in relation to compelling the production of evidence, which the panel would not have.

She said lawyers would proceed with the plan to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.

Meanwhile, Muslim Lawyers Association of Malaysia president Tan Sri Abu Zaahr Ujang has asked the Bar to call off its march because the government had taken steps to determine the authenticity of the tape.

“The Bar could present its views to the prime minister without having to march. This is a premature and unwise action,” he said.

Panel to complete video clip probe ‘within weeks’

by Hamidah Atan

PUTRAJAYA: A three-member independent panel has been formed to investigate the controversial video clip of a lawyer allegedly brokering judicial appointments with a senior judge.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday the decision to establish the panel was made after discussions with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in view of the widespread perception that the standing of the judiciary was at stake.

“The decision was made as the allegations and speculations arising from the video clip cast doubt on the integrity and credibility of the judicial system.

“There is a general concern among the citizenry in that they want to be satisfied with the integrity of the judiciary,” Najib said at a press conference in his office yesterday.

The panel members are chairman Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor, a former chief judge of Malaya, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, National Service Training Council chairman, and Datuk Mahadev Shankar, an ex-judge of the Court of Appeal.

The eight-minute video, posted on the Internet since its release last Wednesday, showed what is alleged to be prominent lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam discussing the elevation of the judge as Court of Appeal president and later as chief justice, and the appointments of several other judges.

Najib said the panel would start its probe “soon” with the assistance of government agencies such as the police and the Anti-Corruption Agency.

“It will prepare a comprehensive report once the investigation has been completed in the shortest possible time. We are talking about weeks, not months. Government agencies will provide full support to the panel.”

Najib said the panel would only investigate the authenticity of the video clip.

“It will be a full inquiry in that the panel will launch the necessary investigation, analyse the evidence, whether it is an authentic recording, and anything to do with the recording.”

The panel will report to the government and the findings will be made public.

Najib said the government would decide on its next course of action once investigations were complete.

“Whatever the findings are, we will take it from there. They will do whatever is necessary. I don't have to spell out so much detail. Let the panel do its work.”

Najib said the panel members had accepted their appointments and that he had spoken to each of them. The government believed they were suitable candidates, he added.

Asked whether the people allegedly involved or mentioned in the recorded phone conversation would be interviewed by panel members, he said it would be up to them to decide.

“They will do the necessary and they will get full support from government agencies.

“I will meet with them in the next few days. We will support them with all the logistics and other requirements.

“They will also work closely with the chief secretary to the government.”

The senior judge assumed to be the person conversing with Lingam has denied being the one.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said on Sunday the judge had contacted him to make the denial. Najib also said the government had no intention to set up a royal commission as the panel was sufficient for the time being.

On Saturday, the Bar Council, in an emergency meeting convened to discuss the video clip, called for a royal commission of Inquiry to investigate the issue.

Asked about the Bar Council's plan to march to the prime minister's office to hand over a memorandum calling for the establishment of the royal commission, Najib said it was up to the council and the authorities to decide as necessary.

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