COMMENT | The latest attempt by Dr Mahathir Mohamad to exonerate himself from any culpability in the episode of the removal of Salleh Abas as the lord president and subsequent expulsion of senior judges is a new low and an absolute disregard for the intelligence of the average Malaysian.

To exculpate or absolve himself from the responsibility of undermining and destroying the independence of the judiciary, Mahathir had previously blamed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at that time, Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail of Johor.

Accordingly, the Agong was said to be angered by Salleh's letter complaining about noise from renovations at the sultan's private residence in Kuala Lumpur. This allegation was made two years ago but the late sultan is not around to refute this serious allegation.

Now the Pakatan Harapan chairperson has accused and blamed the then attorney-general Abu Talib Othman (photo) for making use of his name in the sacking of the lord president that had escalated into a judiciary crisis.

However, the former AG was reported to have blamed the judges for the crisis for making a representation to the Agong complaining of purported “attacks” by the executive on the judiciary.

This was subsequent to the concern raised by judges when Mahathir submitted several constitutional amendments restricting the courts' judicial powers. The judges had expressed their grievances over the executive infringement on the powers of the judiciary and the purported attack on the judiciary with the amendments of Article 121 and 145 of the Constitution.

It was said that a letter written to this effect addressed to the Agong Sultan Iskandar had caused his displeasure. Thereafter, the King had commanded that a tribunal be set under Article 125(4) of the Federal Constitution to take action against the lord president on the ground of misconduct.

The fact remains that you cannot remove a judge for whatever cause without going through a tribunal. This tribunal can only be set up on a representation made by the prime minister to the Agong.

Mahathir cannot deny that he had deemed it fit to represent to the King to set up a tribunal to remove not an ordinary judge but the lord president on such a flimsy excuse.

With all due respect, no sane lawyer can accept that a prime minister (more so of Mahathir's stature) will make a representation on this flimsy ground and definitely not one as astute and cunning as Mahathir.

Where is his political wisdom?

How can he not known that any removal of the lord president on this ground will create a storm of crisis that will destroy the independence of the judiciary for good?

For Mahathir to admit making the representation that precipitated a crisis of such a proportion and yet refuse to admit his culpability by blaming the King and the AG is typically classic Mahathir recalcitrance.

The question now is how can we trust this man who has such diminished responsibility and ability to fake amnesia to resume the powers of the prime minister at the age of 92 when it has been proven that he can be so damaging?

It is even more astounding to watch his greatest critics in DAP, Lim Kit Siang and son suddenly turn mute.

Where are their principles, credibility and conscience?

How can DAP stand by silently allowing their nemesis turned chairperson to fool the public with this oxymoronic logic?

This is absurd. This rubbish or perceived “lying through the teeth” arrogant culture of both DAP and Pakatan Harapan must be stopped.

Malaysians should not allow this new low in our political sphere to prevail by letting Mahathir get away with this insult to our nation's pride of the independence of our judiciary prior to the shameful attack of our judiciary during his time.

TI LIAN KER is the chairperson of the MCA Religious Harmony Bureau.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.