Now that the government has agreed to set up a royal commission to probe issues raised in the 'Lingam tape' , concerns have shifted to ensuring its effectiveness.

DAP leader Lim Kit Siang pointed out in a statement today that there has not been any consultation on the terms of reference.

The New Straits Times today quoted Radzi as saying that the royal commission will have the power to summon anyone to assist investigations, particularly VK Lingam - the senior lawyer at the centre of the scandal.

Responding to this, Lim said the royal commission should be empowered to go beyond the immediate scandal of the video footage.

"The royal commission should be empowered not only to investigate every aspect of the issues featured in it, but also all aspects affecting the independence and integrity of the judiciary in the past two decades," Lim said.

Ivy Josiah, a member of the 2005 Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police, lauded the forthcoming inquiry.

"There is a perception that the sacking of the lord president (Salleh Abas) in 1988 has damaged the judiciary," she said when contacted.

"This is the right opportunity for this royal commission to dig deep and investigate the circumstances that had lead to the sacking of the lord president and to see if there is a link (with the current controversy)."

Ivy further said the royal commission should use its investigative powers as widely as possible, and that its findings be made public.

Prominent lawyer and DAP chairperson Karpal Singh called for the inquiry to begin as soon as possible.

He also emphasised the need for the royal commission's recommendations to be taken seriously by the government.

"(There is a) need to get to the bottom of this, irrespective of the personalities involved. (The commission should) act without fear or favour," he said when contacted.

Cabinet discussion

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday will discuss the commission's terms of reference and its composition.

On Sunday, Malaysian Democratic Party secretary-general Wee Choo Keong said the commission should be given the "widest terms of references" in order to address the issues raised in the video and their implications.

This followed his revelation of a police report made by Lingam's brother Thirunama Karasu Kandar Veluppillai in March, which had alleged further instances of judicial corruption by Lingam and other top judges.

Wee, a lawyer by profession, was mentioned in the video when Lingam was shown telling Ahmad Fairuz, "You have suffered... so much you have done, for the election, Wee Choo Keong, everything."

Wee, who won the Bukit Bintang parliamentary seat in 1995 on a DAP ticket, was disqualified by Ahmad Fairuz who upheld an election petition contesting his win.

Instead of calling for a by-election, then election court judge Ahmad Fairuz declared Wee's opponent MCA candidate Dr Lee Chong Meng the winner.

SPECIAL REPORT: The Lingam tape