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PUTRAJAYA: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will not seek a judicial review on the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the V.K. Lingam video clip.

Joking that he was already “guilty” because the commission based its findings on possibilities, Dr Mahathir, who wants his day in court, told reporters here in his trademark rhetoric that there was no need for him to appeal.

“On the basis of the royal commission, if something is possible then it must have happened,” he said, adding that he had to submit to the new standards that were being followed in the country.

“If it is possible for me to be influenced by Lingam, therefore I must have been influenced.”

He was responding to reporters who noted that lawyer V.K. Lingam, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan and former chief justice Tun Eusoff Chin had filed applications for leave to seek a judicial review on the findings of the commission.

Among others, the commission had recommended that Dr Mahathir, Lingam, Tengku Adnan, Tan, and former chief justices Eusoff and Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim be investigated.

Dr Mahathir had earlier witnessed his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali launch the book Smart Growth, by Prof Salleh Buang, at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here.

On retired Federal Court judge Tan Sri Azmi Kamaruddin's allegations that he (Dr Mahathir) wanted to amend Article 121 of the Federal Constitution because he wanted the judiciary to be under his control, Dr Mahathir said he would prefer other judges with contrary opinions to give statements on what really transpired.

“There is no need for me to talk,” he said, adding that sacking a judge was not as easy as sacking a football player, as a tribunal had to be set up for the purpose.

“(High Court judge Datuk Ian) Chin earlier said I threatened to sack judges, but today says that I dropped hints or words here and there. If there is anything more vague than that I don't know.”

Dr Mahathir also said that he did not know Chin or any judges, and had to depend on others to recommend their appointment.

To another question, Dr Mahathir said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was losing popularity and had resorted to bribing the people to gain support.

He was referring to the ex-gratia payment for former judges who had been sacked, and pledges of RM1bil each to the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

“As far as the country is concerned, this government is an absolute failure. The last 100 days were a disaster. Government money is being used to bribe the people,” he said.

With the additional pressure by the SAPP, he added, it would be best for Abdullah to step down.

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