An upset Anwar says VK Lingam is now ‘all powerful’
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (picture) slammed the government in Parliament today for letting “judiciary fixer” senior lawyer Datuk VK Lingam off the hook.
He argued that it was pointless for Parliament to debate on Judges Ethics Bill which is aimed at reforming a judiciary marred by decades of abuses when the government refused to take action against highly-connected judiciary figures found to be corrupt.
“Now Lingam is all powerful,” Anwar said during debate on the Bill.
Lingam was implicated in a judiciary scandal involving senior government judges and found by a royal commission to be the person who was recorded “fixing” the appointment of judges.
The commission found strong evidence against Lingam and in its report suggested that action be taken against Lingam and others implicated in the infamous “correct, correct, correct” recording.
Other figures implicated include then Chief Justice Tun Eusoff Chin, Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and tycoon Vincent Tan, a close friend of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The recording had been made public by Anwar.
However, Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz in a written reply yesterday to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had said that no action would be taken against Lingam.
He said Attorney General Tan Sri Gani Patail had found “no case” against the senior lawyer.
Anwar said the decision has made a mockery out of the calibre of those who sat on the panel of the Royal Commission, a line-up made of the country’s most respectable judiciary figures.
“With the questionable reputation of the AG himself, the findings of credible and respectable judiciary figures and the recommendation that action be taken have been ignored simply because the AG said so.”
Earlier, Gelugor MP Karpal Singh urged the government to reopen the Lingam case.
He told reporters in Parliament that although the AG had decided to drop the case against Lingam, the senior lawyer could still be charged under the Sedition Act.
“He has brought disrepute to the judiciary,” said Karpal, adding that anti-graft body MACC could also conduct a probe.
MI
22/10/09
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (picture) slammed the government in Parliament today for letting “judiciary fixer” senior lawyer Datuk VK Lingam off the hook.
He argued that it was pointless for Parliament to debate on Judges Ethics Bill which is aimed at reforming a judiciary marred by decades of abuses when the government refused to take action against highly-connected judiciary figures found to be corrupt.
“Now Lingam is all powerful,” Anwar said during debate on the Bill.
Lingam was implicated in a judiciary scandal involving senior government judges and found by a royal commission to be the person who was recorded “fixing” the appointment of judges.
The commission found strong evidence against Lingam and in its report suggested that action be taken against Lingam and others implicated in the infamous “correct, correct, correct” recording.
Other figures implicated include then Chief Justice Tun Eusoff Chin, Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and tycoon Vincent Tan, a close friend of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The recording had been made public by Anwar.
However, Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz in a written reply yesterday to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had said that no action would be taken against Lingam.
He said Attorney General Tan Sri Gani Patail had found “no case” against the senior lawyer.
Anwar said the decision has made a mockery out of the calibre of those who sat on the panel of the Royal Commission, a line-up made of the country’s most respectable judiciary figures.
“With the questionable reputation of the AG himself, the findings of credible and respectable judiciary figures and the recommendation that action be taken have been ignored simply because the AG said so.”
Earlier, Gelugor MP Karpal Singh urged the government to reopen the Lingam case.
He told reporters in Parliament that although the AG had decided to drop the case against Lingam, the senior lawyer could still be charged under the Sedition Act.
“He has brought disrepute to the judiciary,” said Karpal, adding that anti-graft body MACC could also conduct a probe.
MI
22/10/09
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