Judges boot camp shocker: No Royal Commission, says PM - The Star

By Mazwin Nik Anis & Sim Leoi Leoi

PUTRAJAYA: There is no need to set up another Royal Commission of Inquiry on the latest allegation levelled by a high court judge against former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said this was because the Government had already decided to reform the judiciary.

“We are going to implement the reforms. Tak habis-habis dengan cerita ini (The matter seems to be dragging on). I don’t see a reason for another commission,” he told reporters at his office here on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister was asked to comment on a statement by High Court Judge Justice Ian Chin who claimed that Dr Mahathir had threatened to remove judges by referring them to a tribunal during a Judges Conference in on April 24, 1997.

He alleged that fellow judge Muhammad Kamil Awang had told him of receiving a call from the then Chief Justice asking him to dismiss an election petition that he was to preside over in Kota Kinabalu.

Justice Chin, who is currently the Sibu High Court Judge, had twice unsuccessfully stood for a parliamentary and later for a state seat in Sabah in the 1980s under the Barisan Nasional banner.


[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/11/nation/20080611205005&sec=nation]

No More Fuel Price Hike This Year, Says PM - Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 11 (Bernama) -- The prices of petrol and diesel will not be raised any more this year so as to ease the burden on the people, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Wednesday.

The prime minister said this decision was made though the global oil price was expected to soar in the coming months.

The current prices of fuel would be maintained even if the global oil price reaches US$200 a barrel this year, he told a news conference at his office here.

Abdullah said the government had not set a ceiling for the global oil price in the future in deciding to keep to its assurance on retaining the current fuel prices for this year.

He said the government was aware that the people were striving to adjust to the current situation of high fuel prices.

Last Wednesday, the government announced an increase of 78 sen or 41 per cent in the price of petrol, from RM1.92 to RM2.70 per litre, and an increase of RM1 or 63 per cent in the price of diesel, from RM1.58 to RM2.58 per litre. The prices took effect on Thursday.

These are pump prices, and the government is still subsidising petrol at 30 sen per litre, otherwise the market price of petrol in the country will be RM3.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=338819]

Justice Ian Chin tells of threats and indoctrination attempt - The Star

PETALING JAYA: A High Court judge here revealed that a former prime minister had threatened judges. Justice Datuk Ian H. C. Chin also said he and selected judges were sent to a boot camp to ensure they got the message.

Justice Chin said this before hearing an election petition challenging the results of the Sarikei parliamentary seat which was won by a Barisan Nasional candidate by just 51 votes.

In a report in the Borneo Post yesterday, that comes hot on the heels of the findings of the Royal Commission on the V.K. Lingam video clip, Justice Chin said the threat from the former prime minister came after he handed down two judgments in 1997.

One was a judgment on a libel case involving MGG Pillai and Tan Sri Vincent Tan where he refused to give what he considered to be an astronomical award.

Justice Chin said the other judgment was in an election petition on Bukit Bangunan in the Sri Aman Division that he ruled in favour of Independent candidate Donald Lawan against Barisan Nasional candidate Mong Dagang.

“Shortly after the two judgments, the Judges Conference was held from April 24, 1997 where the then prime minister issued a thinly veiled threat to remove judges by referring them to a tribunal and stating that, though it may be difficult to do so, it was still done.”

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/11/nation/21512634&sec=nation]