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KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Datuk V. K. Lingam said the allegations contained in the transcript of video clip showing him talking about the rejection of two lawyers for the post of High Court judges, were common gossip among lawyers.

He said he did not know how the information in the letter, by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to then chief justice Tun Dzaiddin Mohamed Abdullah about the rejection of Zainuddin Ismail and Dr Andrew Chew as High Court judge, had leaked out as it (information) was highly confidential.

Testifying on the sixth day of the Royal Commission of Inquiry, Lingam said he had picked up rumours relating to appointment of judges when he was waiting for his case to be called up by the court in Oct 2001.

He said lawyers who were also waiting for their turn, had discussed amongst one another, over the promotion and rejection of candidates appointed as judges.

"It is common gossip among lawyers," Lingam said, adding that he could not remember the names of lawyers gossiping on that issue because he had talked to many of them.

"The gossip was that Zainuddin and Andrew were recommended to be High Court judges in Oct 2001.

"But in late Dec 2001, I heard that they were rejected. I don't know why PM (Dr Mahathir) rejected them," he said.

Meanwhile, Lingam said the allegations contained in the transcript of the 14-minute video clip were not entirely true.

"Not true, I do not know who it was, I do not know what it means, I don't remember having said these."

These were the answers given by Lingam when questioned by conducting officer Datuk Nordin Hassan on each of the allegations.

Questioned by commissioner Datuk Mahadev Shankar on whether his answer, "I don't remember having said this" inferred that he might have said it but could not remember it now, Lingam said:

"It is possible I've said this but I can't remember because it happened six or seven years ago."

Referring to one paragraph in the transcript which stated that he (Lingam) had arranged a meeting between Dr Mahathir and the person he (Lingam) was speaking to on the telephone, Lingam said it was "not true".

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