Dr M: I want my day in court

PUTRAJAYA: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will not seek a judicial review on the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the V.K. Lingam video clip, saying he wanted to appear in court.
Joking that he was already guilty because the Commission had based its findings on "possibilities," Dr Mahathir said there was no need for him to appeal.
"On the basis of the Royal Commission, if something is possible then it must have happened.
"If it is possible for me to have been influenced by lingam, therefore I must have been influenced," he told reporters here on Wednesday, adding that he had to submit to the "new standards" that were being followed in the country especially when the Commission was headed by experienced judges.
He was responding to media questions following lawyer V.K. Lingam, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan filing applications for leave seeking a judicial review on the findings of the Commission.
Among others, the Commission had recommended that Dr Mahathir, Lingam, Tengku Adnan, Tan and former chief justices Tun Eusoff Chin and Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim be investigated.
Dr Mahathir had earlier witnessed his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali launching Prof Salleh Buang's book Smart Growth at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here.
On retired Federal Court judge Tan Sri Azmi Kamaruddin's allegations that he (Dr Mahathir) wanted to amend Article 121 of the Federal Constitution because he wanted the judiciary to be under his control, Dr Mahathir said he would prefer other judges with contrary opinions give statements on what had really transpired.
"There is no need for me to talk. Just like (High Court judge Datuk Ian) Chin who earlier said I had threatened to sack judges but today says that I dropped hints or words here and there, if there is anything more vague than that I don't know.
He said sacking a judge was not as easy as sacking a football player as a tribunal had to be set up for the purpose.
Dr Mahathir also said that he did not know Chin or any of the other judges and had to depend on others to recommend them for appointment.

photo courtesy of jinggo

tunku : way to go Tun.Bravo.