A political party is asking all lawyers to boycott cases in which Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim presides at the Federal Court.
This is following the revelation of a shocking video showing senior lawyer VK Lingam on the phone allegedly with Ahmad Fairuz on fixing the appointment of judges.
In a media statement today, PSM’s pro-tem secretary-general S Arutchelvan urged the Malaysian Bar Council to “disassociate in all dealings with Ahmad Fairuz” and also called upon all its members to “boycott all cases involving Ahmad Fairuz.“”We also call for the immediate suspension of Ahmad Fairuz and a tribunal to be set up to investigate him and all other judges associated and appointed by him," said Arutchelvan.
He added that the former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad must also be investigated on his role in the dark chapter of the country’s 1988 judiciary crisis.
Describing fixing the appointment of senior judges as “the most disgraceful act of our judiciary since 1988”, Arutchelvan said: “Besides being disgraceful, it is also an insult and humiliation to the entire nation”.
“No government can continue to govern and pretend that everything is fine after this dreadful and terrible revelation,” he said, adding that PSM was also appalled by the mainstream media for acting dumb and not addressing the issues raised in the video.
Council meeting tomorrow
Meanwhile, the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee said that it was “shocked and dismayed” by the video.
In a separate media statement, committee chairperson R Ravindra Kumar said that the issues raised in the video suggested corruption and blatant executive interference with the judiciary.
Explaining that the video would undermine the independence and the integrity of the judiciary, Ravindra called for an immediate and thorough investigation by the police and the Anti Corruption Agency.
“Investigation on the protagonist on the video and all the persons named or mentioned as well as on all the matters raised in it (the video) is warranted,” said Ravindra.
“We also endorse and support the call made by Bar Council for the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry into this matter,” he said.
Ravindra said that the committee takes the view that this whole episode further underscored the need for an independent judicial commission for the appointment of judges.
He said that will be the first meaningful step towards restoring the image of judiciary in the eyes of public.
When contacted, Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan confirmed the emergency Bar Council meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.
“The only agenda for our meeting tomorrow is the video clip and the actions that need to be taken against it,” she said.
Sep 21, 07 1:18pm
PARTI SOSIALIS MALAYSIA
PRESS STATEMENT : 21 SEPTEMBER 2007
DISGRACEFUL !
The revelation of the Lingam’s tape released on 19th. September 2007 in fixing the appointment of senior judges is the most disgraceful act of our Judiciary since the sacking of the Chief Judge and five other judges in 1998. This act besides being disgraceful, is also an insult and humiliation to the entire nation.
No Government can continue to govern and pretend that everything is fine after this dreadful and terrible revelation. PSM is also rather appalled by the main stream media for acting dumb and not addressing these issues. Definitely the problem facing the nation is more serious than the affairs affecting our football team and FAM. We are talking here about the Judiciary – a branch of our system of Governance.
PSM has previously raised issues on the Independence of the Judiciary and the role of the Judiciary in protecting the rights and livelihood of the ordinary working class. Today, these views are proved as only a very few, exclusive, powerful people with business interest have determined the selection of the top judges in this country.
PSM calls upon:
1. The immediate suspension of the Chief Judge- Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and a tribunal be set up to investigate him and all other judges associated and appointed by him.
2. All future selection of Judges being done by the Independent Judicial Commission as proposed by the Bar Council.
3. All high profile cases involving Lawyer VK Lingam and people associated to him to be reopened and reexamined and if the need be, to be retried.
4. The Bar Council disassociate in all dealings with the Chief Justice and call upon all Members of the Bar to boycott all cases involving the CJ in court.
5. We also call upon that the Former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir is investigated on his role in the sacking of Tun Salleh Abbas and five other judges and the dark chapter of our judiciary in 1988 to be reopened and the truth exposed.
Released by:
S.Arutchelvan
Secretary General,
(No telephone : 019-2537791)