With much pressure from the public the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry report on the V.K. Lingam video clip is finally out, ending months of controversy and uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of the commission itself. The cabinet especially the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim must be commended for making the report public.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry found evidence to implicate prominent government and judicial figures, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Datuk V.K. Lingam, tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Umno secretary-general and Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, and former chief justices Tun Eusoff Chin and Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, being involved in a conspiracy to manipulate the appointment of judges and has called for further investigation of these individuals into their roles in the scandal.
The revelation deals a major blow to the reputation of our judiciary and bolsters allegations by many legal experts and opposition leaders that judicial corruption has tainted verdicts over more than a decade. This is a very serious finding that cannot be ignored by the government if it is really serious in wanting to reform the judiciary as it has wowed to do so.
The ball is at the court of Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail who has promised to act accordingly. The is skepticism whether Gani Patail can carry out this important task to investigate these VIPs. The people are watching the developments very closely and would never accept anything other than justice and fair play as there is a dire need to restore the integrity and confidence of the people in the judiciary that has been so badly tainted by the Lingam video scandal.
The public, including the media, should allow the investigation process to proceed uninterrupted without undue pressure or any prejudice against any individuals but at the same time they must be able to see for themselves that justice is done.
The Royal Commission findings provide a golden opportunity for the BN government to regain the support of the people that has been on the decline lately. If it can act without fear or favour against those who have tainted the judiciary, it would be a sure way to regain that support. If these people in elevated positions who were entrusted to safeguard the people are found to have betrayed them instead, they must be punished regardless of their social standing as everybody is equal in the eyes of the law.
At the same time, cases that were heard by Tun Eusoff Chin and Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, during this critical period in question need to be reviewed. Those who were victims of the conspiracy must be vindicated. I am sure there are more people involved since they would have used these 'assisted service' to gain judgment in their favour.
The government has no option but to act to regain its credibility. The question that lingers in everybody’s mind is whether Barisan Nasional government has the political will to do it? Well it must find that will if it wants to remain relevant and continue to rule.
Dr.Chris Anthony
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