One of the six former judges implicated in the 1988 judiciary crisis today revealed how the integrity of the judiciary was encroached by the interference of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad.Former Supreme Court judge Azmi Kamaruddin claimed that Mahathir had wanted to amend Article 121 of the Federal Constitution, a provision of the separation of power between the legislature, judiciary and the executive.
"I felt that he wanted to rule like a dictator. He (Mahathir) was already the head of legislature (and) he wanted the judiciary to be under his control as well, that was his intention," said Azmi.
Azmi was talking to reporters after receiving his ex-gratia payment from the de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim for his sufferings in the 1988 judicial crisis.
Azmi and five other top judges, including the then Lord President Salleh Abas was forced to face tribunals in 1988 which resulted in the sacking of three supreme court judges including Salleh Abas and the suspension of the rest.
As part of the government's effort to restore the integrity of the judiciary following pressure from the legal fraternity, current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on April 17 said that ex-gratia payments will be made to the judges implicated.
Zaid also issued payment to Salleh in his house in Setiawangsa and Azmi.
Earlier this month senior High Court judge Ian Chin had accused Mahathir of threatening judges in 1997, a claim which was denied by the former premier.
tunku : what to expect from an ex judge who receiving monthly pension and on top of it received ex gratia payment(tax payer money) recently which has not been revealed the amount of it.i guess tun had explained the tun salleh saga and now azmi is just accusing without any facts.we will see Tun Mahathir's reply on this matter soon.
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2 comments:
How convenient to accuse someone by only using the word 'I felt' without any credible evidence. And he did not elaborate further on Tun's purported intention to amend Article 121.
Bollocks.
He should just kept quiet and count his lucky stars that TDM is not the kind of person who would make police reports against such slander.
I never knew that judges like to 'SHOOT FROM THE HIP' when making statements. Are they shooting from the hip when making judgements as well? What a scary thought. Thank God he was sacked/suspended back then.
It is becoming increasingly more apparent the iron fist with which Dr M ruled..or rather the extend of the grip. Ok fine even if that is old story, the recent laughable revelations that his story on the RapidKL issue, Scomi and "nepotism" is merely a VERSION of the story, his version of it. weigh it out urself, (now 2mil hits) chedet.com, and stephendoss.blogspot.com.
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