Mukhriz questions timing of judge's allegations against dad - NST

By : Hamidah Atan

PUTRAJAYA, Thurs:

MP for Jerlun Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has questioned the timing of allegations of extra-judicial interference against his father Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad by a High Court judge.

Mukhriz, who is also Umno Youth exco member, said Datuk Ian Chin should have brought up the matter when his father was still the prime minister.

“Why only now he (Chin) decided to raise the issue when my father is no longer the prime minister and Barisan Nasional losing several states (to the opposition)? To me, he certainly has an agenda,” he said after a budget consultation session for BN backbenchers by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the Finance Ministry today.

Mukhriz said he was very sure that his father would come up with his own defence.

Chin had claimed that Dr Mahathir threatened to punish the judiciary for decisions he did not like in 1997. The Borneo Post reported that Chin made the stunning allegation at the start of proceedings on Monday when hearing an election petition filed by Wong Hus She, the defeated DAP candidate for the Sarikei parliamentary seat.

Anticipating a motion for him to be recused, Chin took the “step to disclose what the parties and counsel may not be aware of but which they may later complain that I should have disclosed”. Wong lost the Sariket seat to Barisan Nasional’s Ding Kuong Hing by 51 votes.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/Frontpage/20080612173654/Article/index_html]

Exclusive interview with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad - TheStarOnline.tv

Mahathir explain his chances and achievement three weeks after quiting Umno.

Dr M: Arrest me if you have proof - The Star

LANGKAWI: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the police can arrest him if they had evidence on allegations that he had threatened judges.

“I have no power now. If they want to investigate, okay, fine. I can face it.

“If I am wrong, okay, they can arrest me,” he said upon his arrival at the Langkawi Airport here Thursday.

“They can investigate me. I want to know the truth,” he said.

Dr Mahathir was responding to a police report lodged against him by DAP chairman Karpal Singh following High Court Judge Justice Ian Chin’s claim that the former premier had threatened to remove judges by referring them to a tribunal.

Justice Chin had alleged that Dr Mahathir had issued a thinly-veiled threat to judges during a Judges Conference on April 24, 1997.

Dr Mahathir said those in power now could do what they like.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/12/nation/20080612211520&sec=nation]

Karpal files police report against Dr M - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Lawyer Karpal Singh lodged a police report against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed yesterday over allegations that the former prime minister had interfered with the judiciary during his tenure.

Karpal who is also Bukit Gelugor MP, lodged the report at the Tun H. S. Lee police station here yesterday evening.

In the report, Karpal said if the allegations made by the High Court judge was true, then it amounted to an offence under Section 186 of the Penal Code, amounting to obstructing a public servant from discharging his duties.

Karpal also called for an emergency session of parliament to debate on the allegations made by Chin.

"The session must be called to regain public confidence in the judiciary," he said.

Karpal also questioned why it took Chin 11 years before coming out with this allegation.

He also hit out at the other judges who attended the same conference on April 24, 1997, for remaining silent.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/Frontpage/2265191/Article/index_html]

Mahathir: I will respond in due time - The Star

PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he will refrain from commenting on the revelations made by High Court judge Justice Datuk Ian Chin for now.

He said in his blog that he would do so “in due time”.

“However, I am quite curious about what Ian Chin considers as veiled threats. Perhaps he could be more specific, as his allegations are very serious,” Dr Mahathir said.

Meanwhile, Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam said judges should emulate Justice Chin’s recent action should the situation demand.

He said Justice Chin’s actions demonstrated the integrity of the judiciary system.

“Let us hope that this is the start of a more transparent, independent and impartial Malaysian Judiciary,” Vijayaratnam said in a statement.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/12/nation/21524142&sec=nation]