PAS and PKR youth wings today called on the people to salvage the judicial 
system from the 'rot' brought on by corruption and political interference.


 Citing the 
'
 
 
 <a href="/news/72858" target="_blank">
 
 walk for justice'
 
 </a>
 
 
 by 2,000 lawyers on Wednesday, the youth leaders called on 
ordinary Malaysians to act in order to arrest the rot before it spreads to other 
parts of society.


 <img align="right" height="240" hspace="5" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/98/1869cab44df60f99a07ddfff163ea6d9.jpg" width="320">
 "While 
we are immersed in our religious worship, we cannot ignore what is happening 
around us, the corruption around us," PAS treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli told a 
gathering of about 100 people after Friday prayers at the National Mosque in 
Kuala Lumpur.
 </img>


 "The rot has started. We hope the people will not let it 
continue to spread throughout the rest of society," he added.


 The brief 
gathering was jointly-organised by PAS Youth led by its chief Salahuddin Ayub 
and PKR Youth leader Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.


 It comes on the heels 
of a rare demonstration of protest by about 2,000 lawyers two days ago following 
the exposure of a
 
 <a href="/news/72579" target="_blank">
 
 video clip
 
 </a>
 
 by PKR showing 
senior lawyer VK Lingam in a phone conversation brokering the appointment of 
judges.


 
 
 Clear evidence 
now
 
 


 Although the person at the other end of the phone 
line was not seen in the clip, the context of the conversation indicated that it 
was the present Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim.


 <img align="right" height="267" hspace="5" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/98/85ff12c05b729de1cb7395203fa40dc3.jpg" width="200">
 In his remarks today, PKR Youth vice-chief Amiruddin Shari 
said if people had doubted claims that court decisions are influenced by 
political interests, clear evidence to settle the uncertainties are now at hand.
 </img>


 "All these years, they (the ruling government) have asked, 'Where's the 
proof? Where's the proof? Where's the proof?' Well, now the proof has come out 
very clearly!" said Amiruddin.


 He also said that if Malaysians did not 
agitate for change, future generations will reap the consequences of the 
indifference.


 "If we do not press on this problem now, this nation will 
fall," said Amiruddin.


 PKR Youth information chief Lau Tek Hai in his 
speech criticised Deputy Premier Najib Razak.


 Najib had been 
reported to have said that people should not question the impartiality of the 
figures appointed to the three-member
 
 
 <a href="/news/72869" target="_blank">
 
 panel
 
 </a>
 
 
 tasked with investigating the 
authenticity of the Lingam tape.


 "Najib has warned (people) not to 
politicise the issue (of the appointments). The truth is, who are the ones who 
have used the judiciary as a tool for political ends?!" questioned Lau.


 Shamsul also criticised the appointment of the panel, not least because 
of the perceived partiality of its members.


 <img align="left" height="206" hspace="5" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/98/7f3a598285b30603e8c26c08b878c8dc.jpg" width="160">
 He also 
noted that the panel is answerable to the Cabinet unlike an independent royal 
commission which would come under Parliament.
 </img>


 "How can the executive 
branch of this government (continue to) meddle in the judiciary?" he said.


 
 
 'Join us in this 
struggle'
 
 


 Sallahuddin (
 
 left
 
 ) who is also Kubang 
Kerian MP reiterated the call for a royal commission with full power to 
investigate and disclose its findings on the controversy raised by the Lingam 
tape.


 "We hope action can be taken for (attaining) justice by setting up 
a royal commission of inquiry, not this fang-less investigation panel that has 
been set up. The people demand that a royal commission be set up to tackle the 
issue, to investigate... and to drag (those guilty) to court."


 <img align="left" height="240" hspace="5" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/98/3e849868bad426c259df7d3817a7def6.jpg" width="320">
 He also warned that the bane of corruption in the judiciary 
will fall primarily on ordinary people as its 'victims' unless they pressed the 
government for real reform.
 </img>


 "People have to join us in this 
struggle. People have to be together with us to bring down those who have acted 
irresponsibly," said Salahuddin.


 At a press conference later, Shamsul 
added to his scepticism of panel members Haidar Mohd Noor and Mahadev Shanker, 
both former senior judges, due to their links to the former and present chief 
justices Eusoff Chin and Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim.


 Both Chin and 
Ahmad Fairuz have been implicated by the Lingam tape.


 Shamsul and 
Salahuddin also questioned the appointment of the third panel member, social 
activist Lee Lam Thye, as lacking the legal qualifications to investigate the 
issue.


 <img align="bottom" height="419" hspace="5" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/97/7a7b97ef490a3247be6bb5ab84d3007a.gif" width="435"/>

<img align="left" height="64" hspace="5" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/98/fecf00ac6313acae7ae70e6f0e07c0ff.gif" width="64"/>
 The Lingam tape
 

Praising the 'walk for justice' on Wednesday, the youth leaders call on ordinary Malaysians to act in order to arrest the rot before it spreads to other parts of society.

 
 [VIDEO INSIDE]

Youth wings: Save our judiciary

~RM12

Share

ABOUT

DIGITAL NETWORK

TERMS OF USE

GENERAL LINE

SUBSCRIPTION / TECH SUPPORT

EDITORIAL

LOCATION

RSS FEEDS

DAILY NEWS DIGEST