Dr M : Don't say there is no case

I'm Prepared To Be Investigated And Charged In Court, Says Dr M

JOHOR BAHARU, May 17 (Bernama) -- Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Saturday he is prepared to be investigated and charged in court with regard to findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Datuk V.K. Lingam video clip episode.
"By charging me in court, I will have the opportunity to explain many things that the judges did, including lobbying," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the post-election Umno forum organised by the Johor Umno Grassroots Members Action Front Federation and MykmuJohor.com.
Dr Mahathir hoped that investigations on him would not be stopped on grounds that there was no case.
"In that case, I will have no opportunity to explain what had happened, but instead if I was charged, then I can explain what I had done and what others did including the judges with regard to lobbying.
"I want to tell about the judges who had come to me to lobby. If lobbying is wrong, then these judges should be probed," he said when asked by reporters on the cabinet's directive to the Attorney-General to initiate immediate investigations into allegations on individuals named in the inquiry report.
Individuals named in the report are senior lawyer Lingam, former deputy minister in the prime minister's department Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, businessman Tan Sri Vincent Tan, two former chief judges Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin and Dr Mahathir.
Dr Mahathir said he did not expect the judges who were lobbying had committed any wrongdoing as throughout his tenure as prime minister many people had approached him to lobby for positions whether for a minister's post, deputy minister and other government positions.
He said the decisions he made on the appointments, including that of judges, were based on his own assessment.
"My decision is based on my assessment. I don't care who lobbied or who spoke to me. If I decide that the individual concerned should be appointed, then I will appoint. If a person should not be appointed, eventhough he was recommended by the judge, I will not appoint.
"I am not a postman, when the chief judge recommends, I straight away approve and see the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the King endorses. If that is the case, it can be said the appointment of the chief judge is decided by the outgoing chief judge.
"Then, I don't have any role at all. I don't want to be a postman," he said.
Asked on the recommendation by the royal commission that Vincent Tan and Tengku Adnan be investigated, Dr Mahathir said he did not know about their roles as they had never lobbied with him.
"Anybody can give their views on the appointment of anyone, the prime minister or future deputy prime minister," he said, adding that the present system of appointing judges was good.
"What makes the system to be flawed is the human element," he added.
About 2,000 people attended the forum including Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, former Kedah Menteri Besar Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, former NST Group editor-in-chief Datuk A.Kadir Jasin and former Parit Sulong MP Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad.
BERNAMA

Dr M challenges gov't to charge him

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today challenged the government to charge him for his alleged involvement in a judge-fixing scandal during his rule.
The government yesterday released a report that found evidence of an "insidious" conspiracy to influence the appointment of judges and had listed Mahathir, along with other top figures, as being involved.
Following the release of the report, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's cabinet agreed for the Attorney-General's Chambers to immediately investigate the allegations against those identified in the report, including Mahathir.
"I welcome it," the 82-year-old influential leader said at a meeting in Johor.
"I want them to charge me in court. Only then will I have the opportunity to expose more conflicts faced by the judges, including those who have implicated me," he told reporters.
The report was prepared by a royal commission that investigated a video clip allegedly showing top lawyer VK Lingam brokering judge appointments.
Insidiuos movement
"We are of the view that there was, conceivably, an insidious movement by (Lingam) with the covert assistance of his close friends," it said, citing business tycoon Vincent Tan - Mahathir's close associate - and secretary-general of the ruling Umno, Tengku Adnan.
"In the process, Tun Mahathir Mohamad was also entangled," the report said, referring to the man who ruled Malaysia with an iron fist for 22 years.
The report said there was "sufficient cause" to invoke laws including those on sedition and corruption against "some of the principal individuals involved." But it did not specify who should face prosecution.
During the commission inquiry, Mahathir testified that he was not influenced by his associates when he selected judges.
His arch foe and former deputy premier, Anwar Ibrahim, unleashed a furore last year by releasing the clip, which apparently showed Lingam telling a person identified as former chief justice Ahmad Fairuz that that he would put him forward for a top job.
AFP

UMNO ibarat magnet – Dr. Mahathir
JOHOR BAHRU 17 Mei – Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad mengibaratkan UMNO sebagai magnet yang mampu menarik parti-parti komponen lain untuk memperkukuhkan Barisan Nasional (BN).
Bekas Perdana Menteri itu berkata, jika UMNO kuat, ia akan memulihkan keyakinan terhadap BN.
"Berdasarkan pengamatan saya, UMNO yang lemah tidak mungkin dapat menubuh serta memimpin sebuah kerajaan yang berwibawa. Ini kerana UMNO merupakan sebuah parti yang menunjangi pemerintahan negara di bawah naungan BN,'' katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika menjawab soalan yang diajukan oleh peserta yang menghadiri Forum UMNO Pasca Pilihan Raya: Suara Hati Rakyat di Hotel M. Suites di sini hari ini.
Forum anjuran Badan Bertindak Gabungan Ahli-ahli Akar Umbi UMNO Johor dengan kerjasama mykmu.net itu dihadiri lebih 1,000 ahli UMNO dari seluruh negeri ini.
Ahli-ahli panel yang turut menjayakan forum itu ialah penulis blog, Datuk A. Kadir Jasin, Ahli Parlimen Jerlun, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir dan bekas Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri Johor, Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin.
Turut sama ialah bekas Ahli Parlimen Parit Sulong, Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad manakala Datuk Syed Hussein Alhabshee bertindak sebagai moderator.
Dalam pada itu, Dr. Mahathir turut menasihatkan semua ahli parti supaya bersatu memperjuangkan hasrat dan matlamat parti, bukannya berjuang untuk mengekalkan pemimpin tertentu.
"Parti UMNO tetap kekal, tetapi pemimpin boleh silih berganti,'' katanya.
Utusan


Dr. M ajak singkir Pak Lah.
‘Serangan’ bekas Perdana Menteri terhadap penggantinya diteruskan lagi dan kali ini Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad mengajak seluruh ahli UMNO untuk menyingkirkan segera Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi demi untuk menyelamatkan parti itu daripada terus musnah.
Beliau turut menyebut nama Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Timbalan Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak dan Naib Presiden UMNO, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin antara nama-nama yang layak menggantikan Abdullah.
Katanya, beliau tidak kisah siapa yang akanmenjadi pengganti asalkan Abdullah disingkirkan segera.
Beliau berkata demikian semasa berucapn pada forum bertajuk ‘UMNO Pasca Pilihan Raya Umum 12: Suara Hati Rakyat’ yang dianjurkan oleh Badan Bertindak Gabungan Ahli-Ahli Akar Umbi UMNO Johor di Johor Bharu tengahari Sabtu.
Antara ahli panel forum berkenaan ialah anak Dr. Mahathir yang juga Ahli Parlimen Jerlun, Datuk Mukhriz, bekas Ahli Parlimen Parit Sulong, Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad dan bekas Ketua Pengarang Kumpulan NST, Datuk A. Kadir Jasin.
Dr. Mahathir turut diiringi oleh isterinya Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali dan turut hadir veteran UMNO, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Tapa. – 17/5/2008
agendadaily.com


tunku : normally a person afraid to be charged but look at Tun Mahathir, he challenged them to charge him so that he could tell more and reveal all. as for him again i'm saying it is his prerogative to advice the YDP Agong for the appointment of the judges.there is nothing to charge for.