PUTRAJAYA (Sept 21, 2007): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi says he is disappointed by the release of a video clip depicting a conversation, allegedly between a lawyer and a judge, on the fixing of judicial appointments.

"I have received a copy of the video from the police along with the transcript of the conversation. I have also viewed the recording.

"Whether whatever transpired is true or not has yet to be confirmed. We have to verify the authenticity of the video," Abdullah told reporters after chairing a Police Commission meeting of which he is in charge of promotions, salary revisions and disciplinary matters in the Internal Security Ministry today.

"This issue is important as it has caused a lot of damage to the country's judiciary system. If the evidence show what transpired in the video was not the truth, action should be taken against those who released the video, as well as all those who lodged ACA reports.

"I am disappointed. The video was released with the aim of getting the people angry with the country's judiciary system," he told a press conference..

Asked whether a special commission would be set up to investigate the case, he said: "There is no need for one."

On the murder of eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, Abdullah expressed sadness and offered condolences to the family. "I hope the police will nab the culprit as soon as possible."

IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan, who was also present in the press conference, said he could not reveal the identity of the suspect responsible for Nurin's death.

"If I do that, I will make him run further. We already have a taskforce investigating."

Asked whether Nurin's father was implicated in anyway, he said, everyone is being investigated with regards to the murder, and he said if there were elements of negligence by the parents, the police will make the necessary recommendations to the Attorney-General's chamers for a further decision.

On the Commission's meeting, Musa revealed that three police officers with the ranks of ASP and above have been removed from the police force.

The decision, which was made in the meeting today, saw two senior officers being discharged from service and one demoted from his current position.

Asked on the disciplinary offences commtited by the two senior officers, he said they married another wife, without their superior's consent.

On the video clip controversy, Musa said he had yet to view recording but the police will be interviewing all the people concerned, including the person featured in the video.

DPM: Authenticity of of video recording needs to be established first

SUBANG (Sept 21, 2007): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak says the authenticity of the video recording of a telephone converstion between a senior lawyer and a senior judge needs to be established before any conclusion is made.

He said with latest technologies available in the market, a proper finding need to be made, before anything else is concluded.

"I have not seen the video yet. But we need to check the authenticity of the video recording before making a conclusion. We need to establish that first," he added.

He was speaking to reporters after opening Malaysian Airlines Engineering Training Centre and the enrolment of 169 from Felda settlets for a course in Trainee Junior Technican and Trainee Aircraft Maintainance Engineer in the centre here.

On whether the government will ask the relevant agencies to investigate the case, he said it will be decided later.

Asked if he had spoken to Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim on the matter, Najib said: "Not formally."

Asked whether he spoke to Ahmad Fairuz informally, he said: "I think you better ask him."

Tunku Aziz, Param urge PM to stop the judiciary rot

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 21, 2007): Two former United Nations' officials today urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to act firmly to stop the rot and further destruction of judicial independence.

Former UN special adviser to UN Secretar-General on Ethics Tunku Abdul Aziz and former UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Datuk Param Cumawaswamy say the video clip showing a senior lawyer discussing over the handphone how he is influencing judicial appoinments should be treated seriously.

"We urge the Prime Minister to present to his Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to set up a tribunal for the removal any judge found guilty of gross misconduct and abuse of power. In the mean time, suspect or suspects must be suspended from office," they said in a joint-statement.

Abdul Aziz and Param, both past presidents of Transparency International Malaysia, said in a press conference that they had also handed over a letter, containing further allegations against a judge, to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) yesterday.

Param said the three-page anonymous letter, written in English, but in crude and intemperate language, was received by him three to four days prior to July 20.

Param said he had written to the judge on July 20, and also attached a copy of the anonymous letter containing the allegations, but there was no response.

Among the several allegations in the anonymous letter was judges had discussed a recent decision in a suit involving a senior lawyer featured in the vide recording.

Param said the judgment eventually was delivered in favour of the senior lawyer.

Abdul Aziz and Param also urged the Bar Council to act swiftly and institute disciplinary proceedings against the senior lawyer under Section 88A of the Legal Profession Act and suspend him from practice until the disposal of the disciplinary process.

They said it was not the first time the senior lawyer has been seen "unusually friendly" with the senior lawyer.

They said the Federal Constitution should be amended to provide for an independent judicial commission for selection and recommendation of judicial appointments, promotions and to deal with receiving and investigating complaints against judges.

"We acknowledge that there are some fine judges of integrity within the system. We urge them to remain steadfast and uphold their oath of office amidst the present crisis of confidence in the system," they said.

Abdul Aziz said it would send a "terribly wrong signal" not only to the nation but also internationally, if the government did not act.

DAP calls for Full Royal Commission of Inquiry into damning video clip
Ng Kee Seng

PETALING JAYA (Sept 21, 2007): The DAP today called for a Full Royal Commission of Inquiry into the 2002 video clip showing a senior lawyer telling a judicial officer over the handphone how he is conspiring to influence judiciary appointments.

"Only such a commission comprising of distinguished overseas jurists and judges have the integrity, capability and moral authority to convince Malaysians and ensure that truth and justice shall prevail," said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Yesterday, PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made public the video clip as evidence to show that judicial appointments could be fixed.

"Due to the seriousness of the allegations, a responsible Attorney-General (A-G) would immediately investigate by calling up the senior lawyer for questioning. Instead the A-G (Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail) was quoted by a newspaper as saying no criminal offence appears to have been committed in the video recording," Lim said in a statement today.

Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, also in a statement today, described the Gani's response as "outrageous statements".

"Forty-eight hours have passed and neither the senior lawyer nor the alleged judical officer have denied the recorded video conversation. Neither has the A-G challenged the authenticity of the recording," said Kit Siang.

"Gani seems to be oblivious of the importance of the principles of judicial independence, integrity and accountability," he added.

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