Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) supports the Malaysian Bar Council in calling for Royal Commission of inquiry into the VK Lingam video clip
TI-M strongly supports The Malaysian Bar Council’s call for the urgent appointment of a royal commission of inquiry into the VK Lingam video clip and the affairs of the judiciary following the purported conversation between lawyer V.K. Lingam and Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz.
The clip calls to question the independence of the judiciary and cries out for explanations and accountability to the Malaysian public. The integrity, accountability and transparency of our government and the judiciary will be open to speculation, doubt and even erosion of public confidence if this apparently incriminating video clip is not treated with the seriousness and utmost priority that it deserves.
Public opinion at home and abroad will be adversely affected if prompt action is not taken to safeguard the integrity, accountability and transparency of the judicial system in our country. Domestic and foreign investment can also be adversely affected if justice is not seen to be done. All this can reduce our prospects for higher economic growth, better income distribution and greater progress, especially at this time of international economic slowdown.
TI-M therefore sincerely calls upon the government of Malaysia to adopt the recommendations to promote judicial independence and accountability, uphold integrity, practice effective and impartial enforcement of the law and safeguard the judiciary against political influence as advised in Transparency International’s Global Corruption Report on Judicial Systems released early on in 2007.
Amongst other recommendations, the Report called for judicial and prosecutorial appointments and removals to be independent of the executive and legislative branches, and for adequate media freedom in monitoring and commenting on legal proceedings.
The appointment of a royal commission of enquiry for this grave danger and threat to judicial independence and the rule of law, will be in the spirit of our Prime Minister’s oft repeated calls for greater transparency and good governance. We would therefore like to appeal to the government to clear the air once and for all and build public faith and confidence in our judicial system as one of the pillars of our democracy on this our 50th Merdeka Anniversary!
Issued by
Tan Sri (Dr) Ramon V. Navaratnam
President
Transparency International – Malaysia
