PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he viewed
seriously the video clip of a lawyer allegedly brokering the appointment of
judges and asked police to investigate it as soon as possible.
"The video clip bears a story that can harm the good name of
the judicial system. We cannot take this lightly and the matter must be
addressed promptly."
However, "if there is no proof that the video is true, then action should be
taken against those behind it".
Abdullah said he had watched the video clip showing a telephone conversation
between the lawyer and what appeared to be a senior judge, and read its
transcript, given to him by the police.
The question now, he said, was whether the clip was authentic and believable as
it only showed one party talking.
He said if proven baseless, and that there was a deliberate
attempt at tarnishing the judiciary, laws could be used against those behind the
recording and its circulation.
"If the video is not true, it would then be a deliberate attempt to create
contempt of the people towards the judiciary," he said after a briefing with the
Police Commission yesterday.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said police investigating the
video clip would call those involved, including the lawyer.
The source who provided the video allegedly said that the footage was taken at
the lawyer's home and requested anonymity to protect his position and for
security reasons.
The video, allegedly taken in 2002, shows the lawyer discussing judicial
appointments to be effected through a prominent businessman and politician who
had access to the then prime minister.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the authenticity or
otherwise of the video clip had to be confirmed before any action could be
taken.
"I have not seen what has been reported (about the video clip). We want to
establish the authenticity of the video clip before taking any action because it
can have wide implications."
"We want to establish the basis first," Najib said after launching the Malaysia
Airlines engineering training centre in Subang, Selangor. He was asked to
comment on the clip which has been posted on the Internet since Wednesday.
The Bar Council will discuss the video clip issue at an emergency meeting called
for today. The lawyer's alleged misconduct was said to be the only agenda at the
meeting.
In George Town, DAP national chairman and MP for Jelutong Karpal Singh said the
contents of the video clip had serious and far reaching implications if proven
true. "The government cannot afford to dismiss these allegations. Investor
confidence in the country depends largely on the independence of the judiciary."
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).
News 
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he viewed
seriously the video clip of a lawyer allegedly brokering the appointment of
judges and asked police to investigate it as soon as possible.
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Circular No 021/2012: Application to State Authority for Consent to Transfer Properties
