The Lingam Tape Scandals is what is relevant for this current issue - it was an issue of people trying to influence the appointment/elevation of Judges...(Read below the Malaysiakini Special Report below - but oddly some of the links are not working...)
The grainy eight-minute video footage was taken in 2002 at senior lawyer VK Lingam's Kelana Jaya house. At that time, Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah was chief justice....Dzaiddin was to retire in 2003, and the video showed Lingam expressing concerned that the outgoing CJ was moving his 'men' into top judiciary posts.The conversation revolved around the urgent need to get Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, then chief judge of Malaya - the judiciary's No 3 - appointed as Court of Appeal president (No 2) and then chief justice (No 1).There was also the plan to get former attorney-general Mokhtar Abdullah, who was then a Federal Court judge, to replace Ahmad Fairuz as No 3.To do that, Lingam had roped in tycoon Vincent Tan, a close crony of then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, a key minister in PM's Department.They were to talk to Mahathir on the appointment of judge
PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim stated last night that he would release the full scandalous VK Lingam video clip 'very soon' in light of the recent announcement that a royal commission of inquiry will be set up. - Malaysiakini, 17/11/2007
WHO decides on who shall be appointed Judges, which Judge should be elevated, or appointed Chief Justice of Malaysia,...etc ?
At the end of the day, most believed that this should be done by an INDEPENDENT Judicial Appointments Commission, not even the sitting Prime Minister, other Ministers should TRY to influence judicial appointments.
Hence, the Judicial Appointments Commission, that never existed, was created by the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009 - but the then BN regime did FAIL in the Act itself, and also in pushing for the needed Constitution Amendment which would have clearly removed the Prime Minister from the appointment of Judges..
Despite that there has since been NO COMPLAINTS that any Prime Minister FAILED to do as recomended by the JAC when it comes to appointment of Judges, etc..
Now, it has emerged that the PM may be 'JUDGE CHOOSING" and not doing as recommended by the JAC...which is very very wrong, so the ISSUES raised by the Lingam Tape Scandal is back???
WORSE now, that the position of the 4 heads of the Malaysian Judiciary will soon have to be filled - and if PM Anwar choses his 'own persons', then Malaysia may end up with Anwar chosen Judges...
Now, the 4 heads of Malaysian Judiciary is part of the 9 person JAC, - thus such JAC may no longer be seen as INDEPENDENT - because they may be filled with 'Anwar chosen heads of the Judiciary' and 5 other who are picked by PM Anwar. [Remember the Rulers Conference in end 2022 asked for the JAC Act 2009 to be amended to REMOVE the PM Appointed members of the JAC - but Anwar has failed to act on this yet]
Anwar seemed to have changed....and we may need to remove him as Prime Minister...(see how he was for the Independence of Judiciary when he was in Opposition, but after he became Prime Minister, he seems to have changed - NOW, he seem to want Judges that he choses, Public Prosecutor that he chooses, heads of Law Enforcement that he wants (like Azam Baki for MACC]
Will we enter an ERA where 'friends' of Anwar will not be investigated by law enforcement, will not be charged in Court - and if already charged will find Public Prosecutor deciding not to prosecute anymore, appeals withdrawn, etc...and Judges will rule as per what Anwar wants, or the judges believe that is what Anwar wants...
NEVER BEFORE HAVE WE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION - where the Prime Minister and the government may finally be in CONTROL of the Judiciary...hence the LOSS of an Independent Judiciary...WHAT DO WE DO? WHAT DO WE DO?
So, now we all have to go back and get a better understanding about the Lingam Tape Scandal ...to understand the current concern of a potential loss of an INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY...
Below is a transcript of the conversation by senior lawyer VK Lingam in his telephone conversation purportedly with Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, as recorded in an eight-minute video clip.
The CJ (Chief Justice - judiciary's No 1 post) said his relative is now the Agong, so he wants to stay on to 68, so, Tengku Adnan said - I told Tengku Adnan, yesterday I had a meeting with him - he said PM is already very angry with him and he said no problem, he is going to make you acting err... confirm your position as PCA (President of Court of Appeal judiciary's No 2), working very hard, and then get Tan Sri Mokhtar as CJM (Chief Judge of Malaya judiciary's No 3).
Ah, so we just keep it confidential. I am working very hard on it. Then
there is a letter, according to Tengku - I am going to see him tomorrow
- there is a letter sent to ah CJ - I mean Tan Sri Dzaiddin - that
Datuk Heliliah, er Datuk Ramli and Datuk Maarop be made judges, and he
rejected that Dr Andrew Chew and apa itu Zainudin Ismail lah because
Zainuddin Ismail who condemned your appointment and Tan Sri Mohtar's
appointment.
And then you also, it seems, wrote a letter for the remaining confirmed as judges. As per our memo, I discussed with Tun Eusoff Chin and we sent the same memo to PM. I just want to get a copy letter that this has been done.
And then Tan Sri Dzaiddin said he is going to recommend six people for the Court of Appeal, but until today the letter hasn't come to PM. He never discussed, but neither he has sent the letter to PM. He has not sent. So, I know it is under the constitution, for judges all, that is your job, Datuk, to send, but we don't want to make it an issue now.
Ah, okay. Actually I told Tengku Adnan to inform PM, PM to call you for a meeting. But I will organise this so that Tengku Adnan will call you directly. And then I got your number, I will tell him to call you directly to for you to meet PM lah. Ah So should be okay, then ar correct, correct, it is very important that the key players must be there.
Correct, correct, correct. Correct, correct. You know that the same problem that Tun Eusoff Chin had. He tried to do all this and yet he has run out of soldiers. He couldn't do it because many were from the other camp. Last time was unfortunate because Tun Daim was doing everything sabotaging, you know lah
Otherwise how are things with you - everything is okay? No, don't worry. You know sometimes Tan Sri Vincent said that half the time we are talking about judiciary rather than doing the work. But if I don't do this part, my work will be useless. Ha! Ha! Ha!
Ah, yes. Correct, correct, correct, correct, correct. Right, right, right. Correct. Ah. Ah. Right! Susah. You see he has now asked for six Court of Appeal judges, so that he can put his men before he retires.
Correct, correct, correct, ah, and then, ah, ah, correct, correct, correct, correct, correct.
Ah, never mind, I will do this, I will get er Tengku Adnan to arrange for PM to call you and Tan Sri Vincent Tan for PM to call. You know why, actually, I am very grateful to Tan Sri Vincent Tan, You know why? I brainwashed him so much I even quarreled with him.
One day I went to Vincent Tan's house, I fired him at night in his house. I said bloody hell, if you don't do this who will do it? All these people, Tun Eusoff Chin, Datuk Ahmad Fairuz, Tan Sri Zainal all fought for that. Then he called Tengku Adnan. Tengku Adnan he said, saya bukan Perdana Menteri Malaysia lah, you know. If the old man doesn't want to listen to me, go to hell.
He quarreled with me. I said never mind, never mind, Tan Sri, you talk to PM again tomorrow morning to put Datuk Ahmad Fairuz to CJM. So next day morning he went and he called me back 9.30 that he said PM has already agreed. So I said never mind, we hope for the best. So I said no harm trying, the worst that it can happen is you lose.
Being the old man, he is 76 years old, he gets whispers everywhere, and then you don't whisper, he get taken away by the other side. But, now the PM is very alert because every time he gets letters from Tan Sri Dzaiddin, he calls Tengku Adnan, he says discuss with Vincent, come and discuss. And
Yes, yes, ya. Correct, correct. Ya, but you see although I know PM, but my views I am a lawyer in practice my views are I go through them, I go through them lah.
Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah.
And then Dzaiddin will go and tell them you went and saw PM and make a big issue out of it. Oh ya, I think so, I think so.
Okay, fine, fine, fine, fine. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Right, okay, okay. Ah. Ah. Correct, correct.
Now I heard Raja Aziz, Raja Aziz ah, two weeks ago spoke to my lawyer Thayalan, and another lawyer Anad, in the High Court - they have a case with each other. So, Thayalan and Anad asked Raja Aziz, how is Tan Sri Wan Adnan?
He said he is on his way down. But you know what is the shocking thing he said? Datuk Fairuz became CJM. He overruled everybody, in three months time, he is going to be PCA, and six months time, he is going to be CJ. He said I can't take this shock. He told lah. Ha!
It seems ah that they are going to organise a campaign they are going to organise a campaign to run you down. But you just keep quiet - don't say anything. Don't even the press ask, you said I leave it to God, that's all. Don't say. I really like your message. You said I work very hard, what can I do? I leave it to God. That's the best answer, Datuk, that you can ever give. Ah.
Yes I will also get Tan Sri to remind PM to put a Tan Sri ship this year lah. You know, this will elevate you, you know.
Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes. Ah. Steve Shim got so fast, Tan Sri Chong waited for a whole year to get Tan Sriship.
Ah. My God, that's why, ah. Correct, correct, correct, correct, ya, ya, ya, ya, right, right, right, correct, correct.
Don't worry, we organise this. And if Tan Sri Vincent and Tengku Adnan want to meet you privately, they will, I will call you. We organise a private arrangement, in a very neutral place.
No, don't worry, Datuk, I know how much you suffered for Tun Eusoff Chin. And Tun said Datuk Ahmad Fairuz 110 percent loyalty. We want to make sure our friends are there for the sake of PM and for the sake of the country. Not for our own interest, not for our own interest. We want to make sure the country comes out well.
Well, you suffered so much, so much you have done - for the election petition, Wee Choo Keong, everything. How much, nobody would have done all these.
Yes, you know. Ah. Good lah. You don't worry. I am constantly working on this. I
Ya, ya, don't worry, don't worry. We work hard on this er Datuk. And if Tan Sri Vincent and Tengku want to see you, I will organise it in a confidential place.
Okay, Datuk, all the very best. God bless you and your family.
Okay. Thank you, thank you. Bye-bye, bye-bye.
Note: Given that parts of the video are slightly inaudible, this transcript may not be entirely accurate.- Malaysiakini, 18/9/2007
The grainy eight-minute video footage was taken in 2002 at senior lawyer VK Lingam's Kelana Jaya house. At that time, Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah was chief justice.
Appointed in 2000, he was seen as a fresh break from his two previous
predecessors - Mohd Eusoff Chin (1994-2000) and Abdul Hamid Omar
(1988-1994).
Dzaiddin was to retire in 2003, and the video showed Lingam expressing concerned that the outgoing CJ was moving his 'men' into top judiciary posts.
The conversation revolved around the urgent need to get Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, then chief judge of Malaya - the judiciary's No 3 - appointed as Court of Appeal president (No 2) and then chief justice (No 1).
There was also the plan to get former attorney-general Mokhtar Abdullah, who was then a Federal Court judge, to replace Ahmad Fairuz as No 3.
To do that, Lingam had roped in tycoon Vincent Tan, a close crony of then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, a key minister in PM's Department.
They were to talk to Mahathir on the appointment of judges.
Postscript
Ahmad Fairuz was appointed Court of Appeal president in December 2002 - months after the telephone conversation.
Dzaiddin stepped down as CJ in 2003 and he was replaced by Ahmad Fairuz.
Mokhtar, however, could not take the No 3 post as he was in coma after suffering from a fall in August 2002.
He died in 2003. Ahmad Fairuz' term as CJ will end in October 2007.
On Sept 19, Malaysiakini broke the story on the Lingam tape with the following report:
Interview with Lingam's brother
The 'mad' patient who wasn't
It's my duty to expose the rot
Interview with video-clip man Loh Mui Fah
Lingam tape: Businessman goes public
Video-clip man worries about his safety
Part 1: Q&A: My son took the Lingam tape
Part 2: Q&A: ACA forced me out into the open
Malaysiakini Newsmaker of 2007
And the newsmaker of 2007 is...
Below are our reports as the scandal unfolds (beginning with the latest):
May 20
View royal commission report online
Feb 15 - Final day, Day 17
Ex-driver: Lingam rude and aggressive
Feb 13 - Day 16
Lingam inquiry adjourned to Friday
Feb 12 - Day 15
Explosive revelations against Lingam
Ex-CJ wants commissioner disqualified
Feb 5 - Day 14
'Close relatives' Haidar-Fairuz under spotlight
Feb 4 - Day 13
Lingam tape: More judges implicated
Thirunama: I warned Lingam to be careful
Admissible parts of his witness statement
Two more witnesses for Lingam inquiry
Jan 31
Rajendram: My brother is of sound mind
Jan 30 - Day 12
Part 3 of clip rejected as evidence
ACA officer rapped for sloppy work
Jan 29 - Day 11
Lazar: Lingam out to discredit me
Evasive Ahmad Fairuz grilled at inquiry
'Unseen hand' manipulating inquiry
Jan 28 - Day 10
Ahmad Fairuz: Lingam tape a 'slander'
Lingam stuns court with allegation
Jan 25 - Day 9
Lingam challenges clip authenticity
Jan 24 - Day 8
Lingam: I was 'bullshitting and bragging'
Q&A: 'I didn't say it was not me'
Tape scandal: Holiday evidence relevant
PHOTO GALLERY: Their NZ holiday
Jan 23
Look who's 'talking rubbish' now
Jan 22 - Day 7
Royal commission put 'on trial'
Jan 21 - Day 6
Star witness: It wasn't Ahmad Fairuz
Q&A: 'It looks like me, it sounds like me'
Lingam wants NZ holiday details expunged
Video-maker confirms recording clip
Jan 19
Dr M & Eusoff: Competing in selective amnesia?
Jan 18 - Day 5
Ties with Lingam not 'extremely' close
Chances 'slim' for Lingam's brother to testify
Dr M's 'selective memory' mocked
Jan 17 - Day 4
Dr M: I don't have to explain why
Adnan: Lingam either mad or drunk
Mahathir says Lingam is a new buddy
Lingam tape: Dr M takes the stand
Anwar offers two 'secret' witnesses
Jan 16 - Day 3
Letters on judges grab spotlight
ACA: Lingam forgot phone numbers
Mahathir's testimony put off to tomorrow
Jan 15 - Day 2
Digital expert: Lingam tape authentic
Mahathir to be quizzed tomorrow
Royal panel grills ACA officer over omission
Jan 14 - Day 1
Inquiry kicks off with conflict of interest claims
ACA: It's Lingam's living room
Lingam tape inquiry begins today
Jan 8
Lingam tape: Call these witnesses, royal panel told
Jan 3
Lingam tape: Royal panel to call 16
Dec 29
Internet help bring Lingam tape scandal to surface
Dec 22
ACA calls on Dr M over judiciary scandal
Dec 18
Royal panel 'won't discuss' 1988 judicial crisis
Dec 17
Royal commission motion shot down
Dec 14
Anwar reveals full video, says he has more evidence
Dec 13
Lingam tape royal panel: Lawyers not pleased
Dec 12
Haidar to head royal panel on Lingam tape
Royal commission 'a great letdown'
Dec 6
Lingam tape: Gov't awaits royal nod for commission members
Dec 3
Hakam: Seek international help for royal commission
Nov 23
It's Lingam in video clip, claims brother
Nov 22
Judges, back us on judicial reform
Nov 21
Lingam gives evidence on brother's insanity
Embattled lawyer quizzed by ACA
Pressure mounts on gov't over royal commission
Nov 20
Lingam's brother: I am not mad!
Kit Siang's dream-team for royal commission
Nov 19
Lingam: I'll cooperate with royal commission
My brother not of sound mind: Lingam
Royal commission must 'go beyond Lingam tape'
Nov 18
More allegations of judicial graft emerge
Empower royal panel with 'widest terms of reference'
Nov 17
Govt must 're-interfere' to repair damage
Anwar ready to release full video soon
Nov 16
Nov 15
Panel wants royal commission on Lingam tape
'Consult Anwar, Bar Council on royal commission'
Kit Siang: Why another three-member panel?
Nov 14
Lingam tape: Cabinet yet to decide, says Nazri
Nov 8
Anwar reveals more footage of Lingam tape
Nov 6
Video part II: It was Fairuz, says Kit Siang
Inquiry panel hands over reports
Nov 5
Panel to submit 'individual' reports
Nov 3
Fairuz gone, but crisis remains
Nov 2
Lawyers' ayes to non-extension of Fairuz' term
Nov 1
Abdul Hamid named acting chief justice
Oct 31
Be ready to boycott judiciary, lawyers told
Oct 30
PM rebukes lawyers over protest
Nazri grilled over Lingam tape
Oct 29
Lingam tape: Probe ends, wait begins for outcome
Protesters hand over memo to panel
Oct 27
'Video probe complete, authenticity questionable'
Lingam tape to be 'hot topic' in law confab
Oct 26
Anwar challenges ACA notice in court
ACA: He should come to our office
PKR Youth to King: Don't give in
Palace accepts petition with 5,036 signatures
Suaram slams Speaker over urgent motion
Oct 25
ACA no show, Anwar makes U-turn
Zaid: Be serious, form royal commission
House speaker throws out Lingam tape motion
CJ, Tengku Adnan quizzed by ACA
Lingam tape: Anwar, don't blink
Oct 24
Nov 22 - Bar Council's EGM is on
Judicial petition to be sent to king tomorrow
Online petition 'sends clear message' to gov't
It's clear - no Witness Protection Bill tabled
Oct 23
Police return empty-handed from Bar
Lingam tape: Speaker bends rules for PKR motion
ACA repeats demand for original recording
Oct 22
Give us full video or face arrest, Anwar told
Lawyers press on for a royal commission
'Gov't lost the plot on Lingam tape'
Oct 20
ACA chief: Video clip is inadmissible evidence
Lim: CJ using Nazri as tool to mislead Parliament
Oct 19
Wee to Suhakam: Probe conduct of quartet
Why are we still mulling an extension for CJ?
Whistleblower is in Lingam tape II
Oct 18
A two-month extension for Ahmad Fairuz?
Whistleblower is in Lingam tape II
Oct 17
Panel under fire for postponing meeting
UN pressure sought over judicial rot
Oct 16
We, too, believe the tape is genuine
Oct 15
Stay focused on restoring judiciary, Nazri told
Oct 12
Nazri: They're all crazy lawyers
Q&A: I can't interfere, I am the executive
Oct 11
Deadline ends - PKR duo to protect source
Ex-ACA whistleblower: Go after Lingam
Oct 10
Whistleblowers out in the cold
Deadline for PKR duo expires tomorrow
Oct 9
Nazri admits error, blames press officer
Oct 8
Mr Nazri, what witness protection bill?
Sivarasa: You're wrong, minister
Tempting whistleblower with plastic surgery
Oct 7
Klip video: K'jaan akan siasat secara menyeluruh, kata PM
Oct 6
Gerakan tells gov't: Consider royal commission
Lawyer Lingam, tycoon Tan quizzed by ACA
Target those in the video, not whistleblowers
Oct 5
ACA officials visit Anwar's office
Whistleblowers 'trade off' for royal commission
ACA sniffing along the wrong trail
If Lingam was the source, will he be probed?
Oct 4
Lingam tape: Name source or face jail
Yet another reason why Haidar should quit
Oct 3
Lingam tape: Protest at panel's first meeting
ACA bosses tightlipped on Lingam
Will the Haidar inquiry be a sham?
Perhaps Nazri should go back to law school
Oct 2
Anwar's aide: Two whistleblowers involved
Royal commission or no-confidence motion
Oct 1
'If I don't accept, I'll be sacked'
Former MP to file for judicial review
Bar: It's about justice, not politics
Anwar: Stopped from stemming judicial rot
No pressing need for royal commission: Khairy
Sept 29
CJ's name mentioned in Lingam tape Pt 2
Sept 28
Is the tape authentic? That's the panel's ONLY job
Judiciary scandal: PKR wants king to step in
Youth wings: Save our judiciary
Sept 27
Haidar's appointment to panel objected
Media directed to downplay march for justice
'What crisis? I don't see any'
Nazri's 'no crisis' claims refuted
PKR to ACA: Check Lingam's phone records
Sept 26
Long walk for justice for 2,000 lawyers
Protesters barred from entering Putrajaya
Bar United in their demand
Ambiga: We'll give inquiry panel a chance
Sept 25
Independent panel to probe Lingam tape
'It's unacceptable, we want royal commission'
Tengku Adnan: I'm no judicial fixer
Shahrir: Judicial hangover from 1988 crisis
Q&A: 'No strong reasons to sack Salleh'
Sept 24
Nazri: Because I'm his minister
Minister's claim full of holes
Sept 23
CJ denied talking to Lingam: Nazri
Sept 22
Bar Council to press for royal commission
TI: Video clip cries out for explanations
Sept 21
PM: No need for royal commission
A two-para 'No comment' from Ahmad Fairuz
Kit Siang: It's Fairuz at the other end
Named lawyers clueless over Lingam tape
Lingam tape: Shame, shame, shame
Najib: Gov't to verify authenticity of clip
Boycott the Chief Justice, lawyers urged
Poison-pen letter against CJ finally surfaces
Sept 20
Review all cases involving 'friendly' judges
Mainstream papers play down expose
Pita Lingam: PKR buat laporan kepada BPR
Unite to tackle judicial rot, youth groups told
Sept 19
Bar Council 'appalled', calls emergency meeting
Anwar's name brought up by Lingam
VIDEOS
The Lingam tape: Anwar's press conference l 7 min
The day after: Clamour for CJ to step down l 3 min
Tunku Abdul Aziz, Param on the Lingam tape l 3 min
The Lingam tape: Clamour for CJ to step down l 3 min
Shahrir: Judicial hangover from 1988 crisis l 8 min
Bar United in demand for justice l 7 min
Bus ride to justice l 7 min
Police cause longer walk for lawyers l 7 min
A soaked Azmi Sharom is jubilant with turnout l 4 min
What's the evidential authenticity of the VK Lingam video? l 2 min
PKR asks King for royal commission l 2 min
Youth wings call for independent inquiry l 2 min
Lingam tape: Protest at panel's first meeting l 7 min
Mahadev Shankar: The power of the powerless l 9 min
Lingam tape: Name source or face jail l 3 min
Will Tengku Adnan step up? l 1 min
Gerakan tells gov't: Consider royal commission l 9 min
Nazri Aziz: There's no judicial crisis l 6 min
Anwar Ibrahim ordered to hand in full Lingam clip l 4 min
Cops fail to obtain statements from Bar Council l 3 min
Deadline ends: ACA officers no show l 4 min
The walk is over, now it's time to talk l 4 min
PKR Youth to King: Don't give in l 3 min
Panel to submit 'individual' reports l 1 min
Anwar reveals more footage of Lingam tape l 5 min
Police report on VK Lingam by estranged brother l 9 min
Salleh Abas: Gov't has a duty to repair damage l 36 min
Lingam gives evidence on brother's insanity l 9 min
PHOTO GALLERY
LETTERS
Lingam tape: Will lawyers be even bothered? l Amer Hamzah Arshad
The Chief (In)Justice l Fahri Azzat
A judicial commission now more than ever l Jeffrey
Our worst fears confirmed l Steve Oh
Media diverting attention l Alex Tan Ken Seng
Judicial blasphemy of the highest order l JBT
Royal commission needed l Dr Hsu Dar Ren
Judiciary has gone to the dogs l Pak Pandir Baru
Why is the Chief Justice whispering to Nazri? l P Ramakrishnan
Serve the master well and thy shall be rewarded l Richard Teo
Time to come together and change things l Truly Malaysian
The Chief Justice's denial l Azzat Kamaludin
Ball now at CJ's feet l NAN
Lingam tape a major embarrassment for gov't l Abang Hamzah
Pak Lah's biggest test l Adcin
Royal commission not up to PM l Thai EngLang
Corrupt big fish swimming about freely l Peter Ooi
Sack the law minister l Bath Cliath
Nazri should await decision l Sadirah K
A mere 'panel' won't do them justice l JTB|
Kudos to the lawyers l Dr Chris Anthony
Era of decadence l Zi-zenn
Yes, I made a difference today l Kow Sai
Nazri should quit gracefully l Mohd Kamal Abdullah
Nazri puts his foot in his mouth again l CKY
We've talked the walk, let's now walk the talk l Mohan Sankaran
Rebuttal to minister in charge of chief justice l Gerard Lourdesamy
Lingam tape: Formation of 'no power' panel dubious l Amer Hamzah Arshad
Where are the technical experts? l Peter Ooi
Why is there reluctance to interview Lingam? l Adcin
Again heat is on the whistleblowers, not culprits l Hamdan Ibrahim
Lingam tape: Will the gov't be bold enough? l Dr Chris Anthony
'Independent' panel a mere eye-wash l Krishnad
Chief Justice would have retired by then l Hamdan Ibrahim
Formation of panel raises more questions l Sukhdave
Lincoln's Inn jacket does not the man make l JBT
Let's do an Osama on Lingam tape l Peter Ooi
Nazri, don't hide behind secretary's skirt l P Ramakrishnan
Believe me, the Lingam tape is genuine l Richard Teo
Nazri, lawyers' motives don't matter l Wong Fook Meng
Lam Thye, is the ferry photo authentic? l AB Sulaiman
When we speak the truth, they want to jail us l Dr Chris Anthony
Gov't in a fix over judiciary 'fix-it' scandal l Pak Pandir Baru
Open letter to CJ Ahmad Fairuz l Lim Kit Siang
ACA a tool of the government l Truly Malaysian
ACA, copies are as good as the originals l Digitalized Man
Even Parliament refuses to debate Lingam tape l Peter Ooi
Ahmad Fairuz, do us a favour, go quietly l P Ramakrishnan
Nazri, which planet do you live on? l Sarita Sharma
Nazri, Pak Lah in state of denial l SF Lim
What if the tape is about a bomb plot? l Peter Ooi
What if Eusoff, Hamid sit on royal commission? l Jeffery
OPINIONS
Time to cleanse our judiciary l Kim Quek
Will we miss the boat again? l Steven Gan
Voice of the people l Helen Ang
Judiciary in need of radical reform l Anwar Ibrahim
Video clip lands judiciary in the dock l Baradan Kuppusamy
Breakdown of law and order l Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad
Deal with the rot, not the tape l M Bakri Musa
Let's do the 'lawyer walk' l Azly Rahman
Here's the crisis, Prime Minister! l KJ John
Lingam tape: Najib's panel unacceptable l Kim Quek
Battle on, for change! l Azly Rahman
Proverbial justice in the making? l Stanley Koh
Irrelevant, irrelevant, irrelevant! l Kim Quek
Judiciary in crisis l Raja Aziz Addruse
An explosive video clip released today shows senior lawyer VK Lingam in a phone conversation, purportedly with current Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, allegedly fixing the appointment of 'friendly' senior judges.
The eight-minute clip - said to be originally 14 minutes when recorded sometime in 2002 - was made public this morning at the office of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in Petaling Jaya.
Among the matters discussed during the telephone conversation were the potential appointment of Ahmad Fairuz as the Chief Judge of Malaya (CJM) and his promotion as the Chief Justice (CJ), which eventually took place in 2003.
In 2002, Ahmad Fairuz was the CJM, in charge of all High Court judges in Peninsular Malaysia, as well as acting President of the Court of Appeal (PCA).
Reading from a prepared statement, Anwar said the revelations proved
that his appeals against his sodomy and abuse of power convictions were
tainted and that he was denied a proper and fair trial.
"Such a scandalous expose... only serves to corroborate our allegations of a political conspiracy of the highest level and corruption of the highest judicial office, seriously bringing into question the impartiality of judicial proceedings involving the affected parties," said Anwar.
PKR will seek to submit a special appeal to the Conference of Rulers to take appropriate steps. The party will also lodge a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency and a complaint with the Bar Council.
Ahmad Fairuz was on the three-member bench which had dismissed Anwar's appeal against the corruption charge in the Court of Appeal in 2000.
For the sake of the country
Anwar did not disclose the identity of the person who recorded the video or who had given the clip to the party, but said it had been edited to conceal the identity of a 'third party'.
Video experts consulted by Malaysiakini said that the footage could not have been doctored and was likely to be shot candidly using a mobile phone or similar devices.
The recording shows Lingam, who was sporting a moustache, walking up and down in a room, talking into a handphone.
The inference from the discussion was that "key players" should be nominated for judicial appointments in order to hear cases and deliver judgments accordingly.
A main point of the conversation - believed to be with Ahmad Fairuz in the context of the conversation - was that there appeared to be two camps in the judiciary belonging respectively to former CJ Eusoff Chin and his successor, Mohamad Dzaiddin Abdullah.
"You see, he (Dzaiddin) has now up for [sic] six Court of Appeal judges, so that he can put his men before he retires," Lingam said.
Later in the conversation, he alluded to this matter again, saying: "No, don't worry, Datuk. I know how much you suffered for Tun Eusoff Chin... and Tun said 'Datuk Ahmad Fairuz, 110 percent loyalty'.
"We want to make sure our friends are there for the sake of the (then) PM (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) and the sake of the country. Not for our own interest [repeated], we want to make sure the country comes first."
Lingam himself had been embroiled in controversy after photographs emerged of him and Chin on holiday together in New Zealand in 1994. However, Eusoff denied any wrongdoing.
In 2001,
Malaysiakini
ran an
exclusive report
providing documentary proof of the duo taking their holiday together.
At one point, the lawyer also indicated that earlier efforts to appoint judges aligned to Chin had been thwarted by former finance minister Daim Zainuddin.
"You know that's the same problem that Tun Eusoff Chin has. He tried to do all this and yet, he has run out of soldiers. He couldn't do it because many are from the other camp. Last time was unfortunate because Tun Daim was doing everything, sabotaging..."
Lingam then revealed that "they are going to organise a campaign to run you down; but you just keep quiet. Don't say anything. Even (when) the press asks you, say 'I leave it to God'. That's all."
Also implicated in the conversation were business tycoon Vincent Tan and then minister in the PM's Department and current Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
Based on what Lingam let drop, both Tan and Adnan had apparently played an instrumental role in the appointment of judges as well to secure the honorific title of 'Tan Sri' for Ahmad Fairuz.
"I will also get Tan Sri (Vincent) to remind PM to put a Tan Sri-ship this year, lah. This will elevate you, you know," said Lingam.
Towards the end of the conversation, Lingam acknowledged that "you have suffered... so much you have done, for the election, Wee Choo Keong, everything. How much nobody would have done all this".
Following the 1995 general election, Ahmad Fairuz had upheld a petition contesting DAP candidate Wee's victory as Bukit Bintang member of Parliament. The ruling saw the Barisan Nasional candidate Dr Lee Chong Meng being declared the winner.
Lingam could not be contacted for comment. His office said that he was abroad and is only due back later this month.
When contacted this afternoon, the personal assistant to the CJ relayed a message that he wanted to have a look at the video before saying anything. However, subsequent calls to the office were not answered up to 5pm.
Background to the Lingam tape
The grainy eight-minute video footage was taken in 2002 at senior lawyer VK Lingam's Kelana Jaya house. At that time, Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah was chief justice. Appointed in 2000, he was seen as a fresh break from his two previous predecessors - Mohd Eusoff Chin (1994-2000) and Abdul Hamid Omar (1988-1994).
Dzaiddin was to retire in 2003, and the video showed Lingam expressing concerned that the outgoing CJ was moving his 'men' into top judiciary posts. The conversation revolved around the urgent need to get Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, then chief judge of Malaya - the judiciary's No 3 - appointed as Court of Appeal president (No 2) and then chief justice (No 1). There was also the plan to get former attorney-general Mokhtar Abdullah, who was then a Federal Court judge, to replace Ahmad Fairuz as No 3.
To do that, Lingam had roped in tycoon Vincent Tan, a close crony of then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, a key minister in PM's Department. They were to talk to Mahathir on the appointment of judges.
Postscript
Ahmad Fairuz was appointeded Court of Appeal president in December 2002 - months after the telephone conversation. Dzaiddin stepped down as CJ in 2003 and he was replaced by Ahmad Fairuz. Mokhtar, however, could not take the No 3 post as he was in coma after suffering from a fall in August 2002. He died in 2003. Ahmad Fairuz' term as CJ will end in October 2007.- Malaysiakini, 19/9/2007
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment