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• Panel fails to get a single report after three weeks

©New Straits Times (Used by permission)
by V. Anbalagan

KUALA LUMPUR: After three weeks, not a single person has got in touch with the secretariat of the independent panel to shed light into the authenticity of a video clip allegedly detailing a conversation about judicial appointments between a judge and a lawyer.

Panel chairman Tan Sri Haidar Mohamad Noor said the secretariat in Putrajaya had not called him.

"I suppose no one has come forward to assist us," he said.

On Sept 26, the government announced the setting up the three-member panel comprising Haidar, retired Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar and social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

The eight-minute video footage which was released on Sept 18 has since been widely circulated on the Internet.

The following day, Parti Keadilan Nasional vice-president R. Sivarasa and a co-ordinator Sim Tze lodged a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency to investigate the matter.

Haidar said panel members would meet ACA officials on Oct 29.

"Hopefully, they would have completed their probe into whether the video clip was doctored," he said, adding that the panel was not bound to accept the findings of the ACA.

He said this was the reason the panel was hoping that those who had knowledge of the video could enlighten them.

"Anyone who has witnessed the recording can come forward to give details like who recorded it and what type of equipment was used."

Haidar said such information, coupled with the technical evidence obtained by the ACA, could assist the panel to come to a logical conclusion.

The panel has until Nov 8 to submit its findings to the government but Haidar said it could ask for an extension.

"We could ask for a second opinion on the tape if we are dissatisfied with the ACA investigation."

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