Syed Ahmad Idid Syed Abdullah Aidid, the former High Court judge who exposed judicial corruption in 1996, said he was "pleasantly surprised" by the government's decision to establish a royal commission to investigate the Lingam tape.

Speaking last night on the 'Malaysian Judiciary Today', he said the issues raised in the tape will kelip-kelip mata, hilang begitu saja (disappear in the blink of an eye)."

Quoting Raduan Md Taib's blog post, Syed Ahmad Idid said that, during an election campaign, judicial issues are of little interest to rural voters, who constitute Umno's base of support, and that the incumbents will obviously woo those who form the majority.

As a result, the government may not feel the urgency to address the issue.

He however said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi appears to be quite serious despite being quiet on the matter.

The eight-minute recording is said to feature senior lawyer VK Lingam ( photo ) in a phone conversation purportedly with a senior judge, on the appointment of 'friendly judges'.

"Let's hope and pray that there is a turning point somewhere," Syed Ahmad Idid told an invited audience of some 25 at Wisma Bernama in Kuala Lumpur. The event was part of a 'Straight Talk' series organised by Public Relations Consultants Association of Malaysia.

However, despite being pressed, Ahmad Idid refused to comment extensively on the royal commission whose terms of reference have yet to be revealed. He would only say that everyone should wait for the parameters to be revealed.

The cabinet has left it to Abdullah to announce details, but opposition and civil society leaders have already come up with recommendations on who should or should not be appointed.

In this respect, Syed Ahmad Idid referred to a list drawn up by the Human Rights Society of Malaysia (Hakam) on those it considers unsuitable as commissioners, and asked rhetorically, "Who else is left?".

The list comprised:

  • any lord president or chief justice, past and present

  • retired judges who served certain lord presidents and chief justices

  • current judges

  • anyone closely associated with the previous and current prime ministers

  • those perceived as having grievances against the government and/or judicial administration from 1988

  • members of the 1988 tribunal that dismissed then Lord President Salleh Abas

    • Asked during the question session if he would be interested to serve on the royal commission, he declined on the basis that "I will have to declare that I have certain interests... that would not be quite fair".

    Syed Ahmad Idid, 69, also declined to comment on the recent Bersih and Hindraf rallies, and the Bar Council's 'Walk for Justice' in September, as he does not see himself as an authority.

    Strong judgments

    He did, however, call on lawyers, judges and citizens to come forward to address the issue of judicial ethics and integrity.

    Referring to the organisers, he light-heartedly suggested that it initiates "a fresh image and healthy makeover for our judges".

    In more serious vein, he said the "rot" in the judiciary could be cleaned up if judges are trained to make decisions and if half of the judges are selected from members of the Bar.

    Syed Ahmad Idid also advocated that judges should write their judgments. According to him, there is no need for 200-page judgments that rehash the evidence presented - rather, judges need to think and make decisions.

    Contrasting the appointment of judges with that of corporate leaders, he said a judge has to uphold and nurture the good name of the office and nation, and must possess characteristics and qualities that only few can claim to have.

    Syed Ahmad Idid also advised the attorney-general not to worry if the prosecution loses a case, but to instead learn from mistakes.

    If judicial decisions are accepted, he said, judges would feel more comfortable about making an independent judgment.

    Addressing the 1988 judicial crisis and his own resignation eight years later, he lamented the difficulty of reporting and investigating corruption scandals.

    "The difficulty is getting the evidence and the truth... who has dared or will dare to own up?"

    In 1996, Syed Ahmad Idid authored an explosive 33-page report which included allegations against 12 judges involving 39 cases of corruption, 21 cases of abuse of power, 52 cases of misconduct, immorality and other indiscretions.

    The report was dismissed after an investigation by then Attorney-General Mohtar Abdullah as a "poison-pen letter" with no grounds for prosecution.

    As a consequence, Syed Ahmad Idid was told to resign , but has no regrets about his action.

    But he reserved harsh words for the mainstream media.

    "If you go back to a month or so before I left the High Court, the self-proclaimed free press of Malaysia splashed a lot of misinformation and blatant lies.

    "One daily went to the extend of publishing that I had escaped to live in London when I was eating 'nasi lemak' in Paramount Gardens (in Petaling Jaya) that very morning."

    He also warned those who sought to challenge the government or are considered a threat to the powers-that-be. "The combined forces of the government will crush you and reduce you to a pulp..."

    Watch the 8-minute video here.