Mukhriz: I have no comment - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Jerlun member of parliament Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has declined to comment on either the government's plan to form a judicial appointments commission or the goodwill ex gratia payments to six senior judges who were sacked in 1988.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to comment on this matter. It's not suitable for me to comment and this is also not the right time ...I'm sorry," he said when contacted by Berita Harian yesterday.

Mukhriz, along with his father, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has been critical towards Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, especially after the recent general election.

On Thursday night, when Abdullah announced the government's plans at the Bar Council dinner, he received loud cheer when he referred to the 1988 judicial crisis and gave details on how he wanted to bring closure to the darkest hours of the institution.

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that Mukhriz has denied that he had a pact with former Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo in his (Mukhriz) bid for the post of Umno Youth chief at the Umno general assembly in December.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Saturday/National/2217933/Article/index_html]