ACA Interviews Dr Mahathir Over Controversial Video Clip

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 21 (Bernama) -- Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad revealed that he was interviewed by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) yesterday over the video clip of images of a person purported to be a lawyer speaking on the telephone on the appointment of judges.
"The ACA interviewed me and they asked me questions and I answered them," he told reporters after the launch of a book, "The Third World and International Law", at the Perdana Leadership Foundation office here today.
The book was written by Tunku Sofiah Jewa. Also present were Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
Dr Mahathir said he was interviewed by three ACA officers for an hour at the foundation's office .
He said he was also willing to testify if the law required him to do so.
However, Dr Mahathir said: "I don't know whether Lingam said it or not. I did not see the tape. What I saw was on TV3, that's all. So I don't know about it."
He pointed that a Royal Commission had been set up to look into the allegations.
"It is up to the commission to see whether there is truth or not in the allegations," he said.
The government has appointed former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor as chairman of the six-member Royal Commission of Enquiry to ascertain the authenticity of the video clip and the identity of the speaker, the person he was speaking to over the phone in the clip and the persons mentioned in the conversation.
When asked on the government's decision to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) on the group behind the activities which threatened public order and national security, Dr Mahathir said: "I used the ISA too.
"It is up to the government and the people to decide, as you know we are a democratic country. If you elect people who are supportive of the ISA, naturally the ISA will be there.
"If you don't like the ISA, you have to elect people who don't like the ISA. The choice is yours."
According to Dr Mahathir, he was elected by the fact that he supported the ISA.
"I was elected by the people, so I thought the people approved the ISA, that's why I implemented the ISA," he said.
On claims of ethnic cleansing here, Dr Mahathir said he read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.
"I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that....I think that's a bit absurd."
On street demonstrations, he said the people were entitled to raise (issues) but there were other ways of doing it.
"Not unless they are prevented from making their presentation in other ways.
"If they don't have a choice, of course they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders to explain their problems. I think that should be their first choice," he said.
On the newly launched book, Dr Mahathir said "This book, to me, is very important".
"Most of the knowledge we have about international law and the Third World comes from the writings of Europeans and they are naturally bias."
He said he had not read about many of the things mentioned in the book.
"That is why it's interesting, and I think a lot of Asians, Africans and American Indians need to do research and write books from their own viewpoint for a better balance."