Lingam Tape – MCA Ministers can undergo lobotomy or behave like traditional three monkeys, do not mean public must follow


Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow in Kuantan yesterday asked all parties to refrain from speculating on the video clip of a lawyer allegedly brokering the appointment of judges, saying it was unwise to make assumptions or draw conclusions without solid evidence.

He repeated the nonsensical line: “The video clip merely shows a telephone conversation between the lawyer and another person. We don’t know exactly what they are talking about.

“Therefore, we should not arrive at a conclusion before police conclude their investigations.”

In the first place, it is very clear as to the matters that were talked about in the Lingam Tape.

Secondly, matters adverted to in the Lingam Tape is not just about brokering the appointment of judges but the wholesale perversion of the course of justice, polluting and contaminating not only the present administration of justice but the whole system of governance.

Thirdly, if MCA Ministers want to undergo a lobotomy or behave like the traditional three monkeys of having eyes that see not, ears that hear not and mouths that speak not, there is no reason why Malaysian citizens should emulate them.

Only yesterday, the Bar Council emergency meeting called for the immediate establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate into the Lingam Tape and the rot in the judiciary since 1988.

The Bar Council also decided on a march from the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya to the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister calling for the Cabinet to discuss the setting up of the commission.

An extraordinary meeting of the 13,500-strong Malaysian Bar would also be convened on October 6 in Kuala Lumpur on the Lingam Tape and the “mother” of judicial crisis which encompassed all the judicial crises of the past two decades.

Is Fu passing critical and adverse judgment on the Bar Council, the 13,500-strong Malaysian Bar and all vigilant and patriotic Malaysians, individual or organization, who had spoken up to demand immediate action to be taken on the Lingam Tape, including Transparency International Malaysia, Aliran, Suaram, etc?

Recently, MCA and MCA Youth leaders have been very fond of waving the Malaysian Constitution at their functions.

MCA Ministers should wave the Constitution at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting to support the call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to restore public confidence in the judiciary and to remind all Ministers that the principle of judicial independence, impartiality and integrity had always been a fundamental cornerstone of the Merdeka social contract instead of dishing out misleading and dishonest advice asking Malaysians not to “speculate” on the Lingam Tape.

MCA Ministers should declare whether they fully support Fu in wanting to stifle national outrage and muzzle all public discussion on the Lingam Tape and the latest national and international crisis of confidence in the judiciary — or whether they are prepared to speak up in the Cabinet on Wednesday to speak in the strongest possible terms that no responsible government can turn a blind eye to the far-reaching and horrendous consequences of the Lingam Tape scandal.

The initial response by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Friday after further examination, is even more troubling.

After saying that the Lingam Tape must be “viewed seriously” as it “bears a story that can harm the good name of the judicial system”, he stressed that “if there is no proof that the video is true, then action should be taken against those behind it”.

Is Abdullah saying that unless it could be proved that the Lingam Tape is true, it must be taken as “untrue”, even when there is no denial whether by Lingam or the Chief Justice, Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, purportedly the other party in the telephone conversation recorded in the Lingam Tape?

If so, isn’t this setting up an escape clause for Lingam and Ahmad Fairuz?

Last month, Abdullah publicly said that the Chief Justice must answer the allegation that a Federal Court judge had failed to write the grounds of judgment in over 30 cases, followed by an announcement by Ahmad Fairuz a week later that he had written to the Prime Minister about the matter.

Why can’t the Prime Minister ask Ahmad Fairuz to make a simple statement of denying the veracity of the Lingam Tape on a matter which is far more important, as it is capable of undermining Malaysia’s international reputation and competitiveness?

Four days have passed but there has not been any denial from Ahmad Fairuz or Lingam. Isn’t the duo’s silence deafening?

What is very troubling is that on two consecutive days after the public revelation of the Lingam Tape by Anwar Ibrahim, photographs of the Prime Minister seated on the same table breaking fast with Ahmad Fairuz was prominently published in the New Straits Times (Thursday’s paper on the Istana Negara breaking of fast and Friday’s paper on the event hosted by the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan).

On both occasions, didn’t Ahmad Fairuz make a single denial of the Lingam Tape?

Is the purpose of the message of the two prominent photographs in the press that despite the nation-wide outcry and outrage over the Lingam Tape, Ahmad Fairuz has the full and solid support of Abdullah and that the Prime Minister is backing the Chief Justice to the hilt regardless of the facts of the case and the consequences?

  1. #1 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 10:36 am

    Ahmad Fairuz should not just be sacked, [deleted]. He was given a great responsbility and honor by this country especially given the vast power that can be wielded by the courts and not only did he betray and dishonour it, he was virtually seditious with hidden agendas, political and persoanal all over the place. [deleted]

  2. #2 by chaiong on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 10:49 am

    Who is this Fool Ah Geow ? He is a real FOOL talking cock! I never never respect MCeeA minister in the cabinet! All the ball carriers goons!

  3. #3 by azk on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 11:26 am

    This country is run by sick people! And the SUltans are hopeless!

  4. #4 by azk on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 11:27 am

    I am disappointed at Perak Sultan’s silence. And where is RM Nazrin who has spoken much about laws and integrity?

    Talk only?

  5. #5 by Uncle JJ on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 11:48 am

    When the announcement of election finally made, the pig issue, Port Klang issue, judicial issue and many others are still kept in the dark by the authorities, I being a life member of MCA since 15 years ago will cut my membership card into two and send it back to MCA HQ….. is no longer the party which I supported and could depend on…….is utterly disgraceful and cowards

  6. #6 by peace on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 11:50 am

    I propose that we stop all these denials and speculation.

    Let’s validate the authenticity of the video by using every possible means, and get down to the real story.

  7. #7 by k1980 on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 11:53 am

    No need to cut your membership card into two and send it back to MCA HQ; just shove one piece each [deleted] respectively to save the garbage collector the trouble of disposing them.

  8. #8 by waterman on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 11:57 am

    “Four days have passed but there has not been any denial from Ahmad Fairuz or Lingam. Isn’t the duo’s silence deafening?”

    They are back to their old trick –
    ” I work so hard, what can I do? I leave it to God”
    How sickening it is to use God’s name in vain.

    Obviously they are trying their wits end to wiggle out of this.They think they are the law & they are above God. What can the people do?

    Will it need more than just the Bar Council to bring justice back on the table? Will it take more than just 10,000 plus signitures to quicken our Agong to intervene to bring order?

  9. #9 by k1980 on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 11:59 am

    Nixon resigned over Watergate, Reagen’s ass got fried over Irangate, Clinton was nearly impeached over Monicagate, Bush is in deep shit over Iraqgate but Dollah acts dunno over the Lingamgate. Something wrong with Lingam’s lingam?

  10. #10 by LittleBird on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 12:26 pm

    Newsbreak NST:-
    “NAZRI: Senior judge denies talking to lawyer in video clip”

    http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/NewsBreak/20070923113425/Article/index_html

    So the ones is on YB Kit and DSAI to prove that the other side was the senior judge.

  11. #11 by badak on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 1:02 pm

    Next week headlines” ANWAR IS BEING INVESTICATED BY THE POLICE FOR SPREADING LIES ON THE INTERNET” So whats new in boleh land

  12. #12 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 1:13 pm

    Senior judge denies means that at time of clip, lawyer (whose voice and manner of speaking is known to many in the malaysian Bar) was merely talking to himself (monologue, imagining the senior judge was on the other side of the line, as can be distilled from context of conversation). Was he crazy then? No, not really, he was merely rehearsing for a drama play involving how a prominent practising lawyer’s input is canvassed by a top judge to help appoint judges on the bench. Don’t believe check the phone records.

  13. #13 by bystander on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 1:19 pm

    This country is governed and administered by very sick PM, cabinet ministers, police, judges, prosecutors, university professors, doctors etc etc. Why are the heads of all GLCs malays? Shouldn’t 30% be non malays? Then why should all listed cos submit their staff composition to MOF/SC? Is it an agenda to suppress the non malays further?

  14. #14 by LittleBird on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 1:37 pm

    Wee Chee Keong’s issue was long long ago during another PM’s tenure. Didn’t someone’s car parked in porche to meet the then CJ to wish Happy birthday. ..somethiing about the visitors registry book being replaced because it became full.

    What happened?

    So nothing changed.. the power brokers are still there.

  15. #15 by digard on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 3:36 pm

    “I propose that we stop all these denials and speculation.
    Let’s validate the authenticity of the video by using every possible means, and get down to the real story.”

    Piece, yes. And what you actually want to say is: “Let the authorities evaluate the whole matter as always, and come up with their own, objective conclusions.” Is it this? And we, the electorate, as always trust the outcome of these validations. We are damn sure, that PDRM will do its best, objectively, to distill the truth out of that video, right? And the phone service provider of Lingam will not be able to confirm the talk has ever happened. And we will be confident and go back to our beds and sleep happily ever after.
    We might even learn that Lingam was only rehearsing, and the video taken by himself as coaching tool. And we’ll sleep ever more sound.

    Even though it could have been acted, what does it show? It demonstrates that what YB Kit presumes can happen. Why would Lingam rehearse it, otherwise? And this fact is quite too much already. Irrespective of acting or not, irrespective who the intended other party was. Planning a crime is as punishable as the crime committed.

  16. #16 by bystander on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 3:55 pm

    Few weeks ago i commented that CJ is bias and implied he is corrupted but my comments were deleted. Now we all know he is bias and corrupted. Just look back at all his judgements – Lina Joy, Metramac etc etc. Can the citizens have the confidence in the judiciary?

  17. #17 by mwt on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 4:07 pm

    The concerted Spin & damage control is now on. Thru the STAR (Deputy Minsiter Fu Ah Kow) asking people not to speculate (and he himself was speculating -“video clip merely shows a telephone conversation between the lawyer and another person. We don’t know exactly what they are talking about”). And from the NST (online) Nazri said had a call from CJ Ahmad Fairuz denying he was “at the other end of the line”. So now who is this Datuk he was talking to? Hasn’t our opposition leader DAP Lim KS nailed him on the sequence of dates?
    More details at:
    http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2007/09/lingam-ranting-with-whom-video-clip.html

  18. #18 by fm2 on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 4:17 pm

    since we all hate this stupid gov, can we request that make out own country? split it.

  19. #19 by shortie kiasu on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 6:41 pm

    The important issue for the government under Abdullah is how to restore the integrity and impartiality of judiciary now that another controversy has arisen to their mockery. The world would be watching how the government is going to avert the controversy and restore the confidence of people in the judiciary system.

  20. #20 by grace on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 7:45 pm

    Let us not drag the Sultan into the issue. The scandals that crop up now too often is the offshoot from UMNO’s brand of politics. Nothing to do with the sultans.
    In fact Raja Nazrin and HRH the Sultan of Selangor should be praised for speaking up the real truth which our politicians shun like lepers.

  21. #21 by undergrad2 on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 8:51 pm

    Here’s a thought for what it is worth, for you to consider and deliberate hopefully.

    It is true it is not just about supplanting the national coalition led by UMNO, but about having a viable government afterwards.

    Here’s the juice.

    If power sharing which is what it is all about is shared more equitably, then we could see the emergence of a government that is more responsive to the will of the people – and none of the abuse of power and the corruption that we are now seeing.

    Currently, UMNO wields almost unlimited power , control and influence over the other members of the national coalition. MCA and MIC are not in a position to influence major policy decisions the way they are supposed to in a democracy. Over the years it has given rise to an authoritarian regime – a type of government which under Mahathir is sometimes characterised as a benevolent authoritarianism. It was still productive as long as it lasted but at what political and economic costs??

    With Mahathir gone, it has lost the benevolence and has become a regime which has lost its bearings, a total disconnect between leaders and their grassroots supporters – the ordinary Malaysians who have the most to lose.

    The last bastion of democracy which is the Judiciary has fallen to the Executive and has long lost its constitutional role as the third pillar of government. With it gone, the Executive wields unlimited power and what we see is a run away government bent on preserving and perpetuating a system riddled with abuse of power and corruption at whatever cost both poltical and economic.

    The Lingam tape is enough to bring down a government anywhere else if not for the fact that in Malaysia, Malaysians have a high threshold for abuse. It does not look like there can ever be a time when Malaysians would take to the streets en masse, their representatives seeking an audience with the Malay Rulers to try and re-take the government.

  22. #22 by sec on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 9:19 pm

    Be a bit “Sabar”; Anwar Ibrahim will not be so stupid, this is only Episode No.1 ; he will release Episode 2,3 ,4 …… .[deleted]

  23. #23 by k1980 on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 9:29 pm

    Don’t be shocked should the police declare the Lingam tape as “doctored” and Anwar arrested for distributing fake information designed to duscredit the judiciary and the country

  24. #24 by undergrad2 on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 9:32 pm

    The Bar Council and its members constitute a strong pressure group and has impacted government policies by their activities before. But surely it is not the only pressure group?

    Where are the rest?

    It is important that NGOs, trade unions, chambers of commerce etc organize themselves into one large assembly to make their stand. There can be but one stand i.e. for the restoration of the rule of law.

    What to do with the CJ and those implicated in the Lingam tape is a matter that has to be deliberated. That deliberation cannot begin without first setting up the tribunal as envisaged by the Malaysian Constitution. What is disturbing is that it concerns not just the CJ and a member of the Bar but some six others named in the tape.

    What the Lingam tape shows is not just a senior lawyer long known for his close associaton with members of the Bench (in contravention of the Code of Ethics of the Bar Council), brokering on behalf of certain individuals and plotting to fix judicial appointments but its implication. The implication is that important judicial appointments are for “sale” to the right buyer or buyers. This without more is an abuse of process. It is a situation which could lend itself easily to corruption and the perversion of the course of justice.

    As for the statement by the Deputy Minister Mr. Fu about allegations of brokering that the tape shows, we could all ask him to “Go eff yu!” Any attempt to downplay the significance of the tape is doomed to fail as Malaysians can think for themselves.

  25. #25 by Justicewanted on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 9:36 pm

    And from the NST (online) Nazri said had a call from CJ Ahmad Fairuz denying he was “at the other end of the line”.

    ————————————————–
    Shows how low the IQ of Nazri, anyone with some cow sense will definite deny that.

    How can such low IQ person be a minister?

  26. #26 by Godfather on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 10:29 pm

    Fu Ah Kiow is just a typical MCA brown-noser who tries too hard to please his UMNO masters. He said that he could not make out or understand what was in the video-clip, but on the very same day, Badawi and Nazri openly admitted that they had seen and heard the video-clip.

    MCA lap-dog isn’t worth commenting on.

  27. #27 by undergrad2 on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 10:31 pm

    “And from the NST (online) Nazri said had a call from CJ Ahmad Fairuz denying he was “at the other end of the line”.

    ————————————————–

    Read this again!

    A judge calling a Minster to explain?? There goes the independence of the Judiciary shit!

  28. #28 by oct on Sunday, 23 September 2007 - 10:44 pm

    It is easy to prove whether such a conversation has taken place is to get hold of his telco statement for that month. Get a court order to force the telco company to do so and we shall know whether there was such a conversation and who he called. Of course, someone will ask the Telco company to delete the records like the Immigration Dept records of the Mongolian girl. In Malaysia, semua boleh. Anything can if you are in power and have the money.The telco statement is a very important evidence at the moment. So please get a hard copy before it is deleted by someone.

  29. #29 by Jong on Monday, 24 September 2007 - 1:00 am

    The Judge Ahmad Fairuz knows this Minister Nazri has a big mouth, able to announce it to the world. Interesting, what’s between them, huh?

  30. #30 by raven77 on Monday, 24 September 2007 - 1:39 am

    Will Badawi go….or will God strike him down and save this country…..

  31. #31 by undergrad2 on Monday, 24 September 2007 - 3:11 am

    Leave God alone! He is too busy fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to be bothered with the likes of V.K. Lingam and Fairuz.

  32. #32 by Cinapek on Monday, 24 September 2007 - 12:51 pm

    “……all parties to refrain from speculating on the video clip of a lawyer ….”

    This MCA minister’s intellect is limited to making the same cliche statement everytime such controversy arises. If my memory serves me right, he made the same or similar comments about police abuse in the video clip of “Squatgate”.

    Don’t waste time commenting on their press statements. They are made just for the sake of saying something but these eunuchs knows that something must be proven safe to say. These eunuchs do not have what it takes in their anatomy to say something original and thought provoking.

  33. #33 by ihavesomethingtosay on Monday, 24 September 2007 - 1:35 pm

    MaChAi is and always will be MaChAi. machai knows no honour.

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