An opposition parliamentarian today called for a review of the suspension of former Lord President Salleh Abas which precipitated the 1988 judiciary crisis.

Pokok Sena PAS member of Parliament Mahfuz Omar said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should initiate the review following the recent appointment of Salleh as one of the 16-member Police Royal Commission.

Describing the appointment as a recognition of Salleh's contribution, Mahfuz said it showed the removal of the former was invalid and a slap on the face of the government as well as the tribunal set up to sack the former Lord President.

"It also affirms that the sacking of Salleh was not in accordance with the principles of justice and truth (but) it resulted from the intervention of the executive in the judiciary," the PAS MP said in a statement to malaysiakini.

Investigate Mahathir

He claimed it was no longer a secret that the tribunal established to remove Salleh did not have a reasonable ground but merely to protect the political interest of the ruling government at that time.

The removal of Salleh - who is now PAS-led Terengganu state executive councillor - started the erosion of the credibility of the country's judiciary, Mahfuz said.

He said the former Lord President should also be allowed to enjoy rights and benefits as other retired chief justices and urged the government to remedy the judiciary's reputation by declaring the dismissal as invalid.

"An investigation should also be launched against former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who gave a wrong advice to the King to set up the tribunal to sack Salleh while the tribunal members should be investigated as well," the MP said.

"The government should not think that by appointing Salleh as one of the commissioners, it could exonerate itself from its tainted record of interfering in the judiciary," Mahfuz stressed.

Salleh was removed as Lord President in 1988 by the King on the recommendation of then Prime Minister Mahathir.

The onslaught on the judiciary started after Umno was declared an illegal party in 1987.