There is no urgent need to form a royal commission to look into the state of the judiciary, said Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin today.


 He said the three-member panel appointed by the government should be allowed to do its task in determining the authenticity of the 'Lingam video clip' scandal.


 <img align="left" height="240" hspace="5" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/98/fc6a432c7a6c48fea1d86dcc27f625fb.jpg" width="140"/>
 "Let us find out what the findings of the panel are. As far as - in the longer term - judicial reforms or the need for a judicial commission are concerned, that is something that can be discussed by the government and concerned citizens.


 "I think that for the moment, it isn't necessary for there to be a royal commission to look into the judiciary in total," he added when met after a protest march to the Burmese embassy in Kuala Lumpur.


 He was asked to comment on the calls by the legal fraternity and other groups for a
 
 <a href="/news/72841#l" target="_blank">
 royal commission of inquiry
 </a>
 
 to look into the present state of the judiciary.


 They have also demanded the setting up of a judicial commission for the appointment and promotion of judges.


 The calls followed the exposure of a video clip which shows senior lawyer VK Lingam brokering judicial appointments with purportedly current Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim.


 The clip was said to be recorded in 2002 when Ahmad Fairuz was Chief Judge of Malaya. Ahmad Fairuz has since
 
 <a href="/news/72740" target="_blank">
 denied
 </a>
 
 the issue.


 
 
 Only six degrees of separation
 
 


 Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced the appointment of former senior judges Haidar Mohd Noor and Mahadev Shankar to determine the
 
 <a href="/news/72824" target="_blank">
 authenticity
 </a>
 
 of the video clip.


 <img align="right" height="474" hspace="5" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/97/9bfe94ac31e353b1dd38a0f19bc4b3fb.jpg" width="140"/>
 National Service Council chairperson and former DAP parliamentarian Lee Lam Thye was also selected as a member of the panel.


 While admitting that there may be 'other issues' to be looked into for the purpose of strengthening the credibility of the judiciary, Khairy said Malaysians should place their trust in the three-member panel as it comprises highly respected people with integrity.


 He also denied the need to question the impartiality of Haidar and Mahadev due to their links to the former and present chief justices Eusoff Chin and Ahmad Fairuz.


 "I'm sure that the members of the panel would not want to come up with a report that falls short of the public's expectations as far as its credibility and thoroughness in the investigations are concerned.


 "Let's not pre-judge and have assumptions the panel will not come up with an independent or credible report.


 "Malaysia is such a small country. There's less than six degrees of separation between any two Malaysians. If you want to find links between people, you can easily do so," he added.


 Khairy also declined the need for Umno Youth to heed the call from its opposition youth counterparts to
 
 <a href="/news/72647" target="_blank">
 join hands
 </a>
 
 in tackling the 'crisis' in the judiciary.


 "I think we have different approaches towards the issue. Because of that, I don't think it's necessary for us to work together with the opposition parties," he said.


 "But everyone agrees on the end point - that Malaysia needs a credible and strong judiciary and a judicial institution that people can be proud of," he added.


 
 <a href="/news/72772" target="_blank">
 SPECIAL REPORT: The Lingam tape
 </a>

The Lingam tape
 

'Let's not pre-judge and have assumptions the panel will not come up with an independent or credible report.'

No pressing need for royal commission: Khairy

~RM12

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