'I remember addressing the Asean Law Conference in 1995 as Deputy Prime Minister, but I can't recall attending any conference involving judges.'Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was said to have addressed a judges' 'boot camp' in 1997
Parliament 'should discuss charges of political meddling in judicial system'
KUALA LUMPUR - OPPOSITION lawmakers are calling for an emergency Parliament session in the face of a muted reaction from the government to sensational claims by a senior high court judge about political interference in the trying of cases.
Senior High Court Judge Ian Chin dropped a bombshell on Monday, alleging that former premier Mahathir Mohamad had threatened to sack judges who delivered judgments that displeased him and had sent judges to a 'boot camp' for 'indoctrination'.
Lawyer Karpal Singh, who is also an MP from the opposition Democratic Action Party, lodged a police report against Tun Dr Mahathir on Wednesday over the claims.
'Parliament should meet in an emergency session to debate what has been revealed,' he told The Straits Times.
He criticised retired and serving judges who said this week that they could not recall Dr Mahathir's alleged threat, reportedly made in 1997, to sack judges who would not toe the government line.
'Yes, sudden amnesia. This is shocking. The public is not that naive,' he said.
Several former judges have now revealed that they, too, faced political pressure in the past.
'There was one case involving a politician which I was supposed to handle. It was suddenly handed over to another judge,' former High Court judge Syed Ahmad Idid Syed Abdullah, who served until 1996, was quoted as saying by the Malay-language Berita Harian daily.
Both Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim have dismissed calls for an inquiry into the latest allegations, saying that judiciary reform is already under way.
The government's stance has received support from some of its harshest critics.
Former United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Param Cumaraswamy told The Straits Times: 'There is no point in setting up a royal commission and wasting taxpayers' money to investigate this. Mahathir will just sit there with his selective amnesia.'
He was referring to the recent Royal Commission of Inquiry on a controversial video clip showing a top lawyer brokering judicial appointments with the help of politicians and businessmen when Dr Mahathir was in office. When questioned during the inquiry, the ex-premier said he had forgotten key facts.
Dr Mahathir told reporters yesterday that police were free to investigate the allegations made by Justice Chin against him.
'If I am wrong, okay, they can arrest me...They can investigate me. I want to know the truth,' he said, responding to the police report made by Mr Karpal. He also said he would hold a press conference today on the allegations.
Separately, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he could not remember speaking at any 'boot camp' in 1997.
'I remember addressing the Asean Law Conference in 1995 as Deputy Prime Minister, but I can't recall attending any conference involving judges,' he said.
Justice Chin on Monday claimed that Dr Mahathir had been scheduled to address the five-day 'boot camp' for judges and judicial officers in May 1997 but 'instead sent his then deputy, who instead of talking, invited questions'.
The judge added: 'And the one question I remembered being asked was: Are politicians looking for girls when they are often seen loitering at posh hotel lobbies?'
JUDGES' 'AMNESIA' CRITICISED
'Yes, sudden amnesia. This is shocking. The public is not that naive.'
LAWYER AND OPPOSITION MP KARPAL SINGH, who criticised judges who said they could not recall Tun Dr Mahathir's alleged threat, reportedly made in 1997, to sack judges who would not toe the government line
GO AHEAD, INVESTIGATE ME
'If I am wrong, okay, they can arrest me...They can investigate me. I want to know the truth.'
TUN DR MAHATHIR, in response to a police report made by Mr Karpal against him over the judicial interference allegation
NO BOOT CAMP FOR ME
'I remember addressing the Asean Law Conference in 1995 as Deputy Prime Minister, but I can't recall attending any conference involving judges.'
OPPOSITION LEADER ANWAR IBRAHIM, who was said to have addressed a judges' 'boot camp' in 1997
Hazlin Hassan
The Straits Times, Singapore
13/06/08
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