A royal commission begins its inquiry into alleged judicial corruption with witnesses to include top politicians and judicial officers.

Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim unleashed a furore in September when he released a video clip in which well-connected lawyer VK Lingam purportedly told former top judge Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim that he would put the man's name forward for a senior appointment.

Among those listed as possible witnesses include former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar and Ahmad Faiurz.

The commission panel consists of retired judges and rights leaders who will decide on the clip's authenticity and if there is any evidence of wrongdoing. They will hear from a total of 16 witnesses during the two-week inquiry. It is head by former high ranking judge Haidar Mohamed Noor.

On Sunday, local businessman Loh Mui Fah said his son made the video clip in late December 2001.

"I was not aware then that my son was recording (the lawyer's) conversation," he told Malaysiakini.

Lawyer to question panel composition

Anwar was heir apparent to former prime minister Mahathir until his sacking in 1998, when he was hit with sodomy and corruption charges that landed him in jail for six years.

The sodomy conviction was later overturned but the corruption verdict stands, barring Anwar from running for public office until April 2008.

A statement from his party PKR stated that Anwar would be attending the inquiry today.

“I have appointed counsel who will raise a number of critical issues before the commission including the question of the composition of the commission,” said Anwar in the statement.

He also commended Loh’s bravery for coming forward and confirming his identity as the other person in the Lingam tape.

"In light of Loh's confirmation, all doubts as to the authenticity of the video should be dispelled, enabling the royal commission to focus on the disturbing issues raised in the video itself."

Narrow terms of reference

The five-point terms of reference given to the commission will be restricted to the matters raised in the video clip. Interestingly, it also include establishing the authenticity of the video clip, which was the key issue investigated by an earlier government-appointed panel.

The terms of references are:

1) to enquire and ascertain the authenticity of the video clip

2) to enquire and identify the speaker, the person he was speaking to in the video clip and the persons mentioned in the conversation

3) to enquire and ascertain the truth or otherwise of the content of the conversation in the video clip

4) to determine whether any act of misbehaviour has been committed by person or persons identified or mentioned in the video clip

5) to recommend any appropriate course of action to be taken against the person or persons identified or mentioned in the video clip, should such person or persons be found to have committed any misbehaviour.

The royal commission will have until mid-March to complete its inquiry.