Sin Chew Daily today reported from its sources that all the three members of the Haidar Panel established to determine the authenticity of the Lingam Tape had one common recommendation — to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry.
If this is true, then the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would have no option but to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry or he would be facing his greatest crisis of confidence in his four years as Prime Minister.
Then the questions are the terms of reference and composition of the Royal Commission of Inquiry.
In such circumstances, the Prime Minister should undertake a proper and meaningful consultation with representative personalities and groups to ensure that the Royal Commission of Inquiry when established would not become another divisive issue, either because of its restricted terms of reference, controversial composition or procrastination.
Such a Royal Commission must have full and untrammeled powers to inquire into the deep-seated causes for the series of crisis of confidence in the independence, integrity and quality of the judiciary which have tainted Malaysia’s system of justice to one held in high international esteem and regard two decades ago to one looked askance nationally and internationally by all respectable jurists, legal and civic organizations.