Heart2Heart: FINALLY!! Royal Commission!!

Finally, the government agreed to set up a Royal Commission to probe the Lingam video aka Mr. Correct's & Mr Judge. see the report here:

November 16, 2007 19:01 PM

Royal Commission To Be Set Up To Probe Controversial Video Clip

BON VOYAGE… Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi bids farewell to Uruguayan President Dr Tabare Vasquez (left). Pix: Azman Firdaus

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- A royal commission will be set up to investigate a video clip featuring a purported telephone conversation between a prominent lawyer and a senior judge over the appointment of judges.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the establishment of the panel was deemed appropriate based on the report by a three-man panel set up to determine the authenticity of the video clip recently.

"We've agreed to set up the commission. Now we're deciding on the terms of reference, the tasks to be undertaken by the commission," he told reporters after calling on Uruguayan President Dr Tabare Vasquez and his wife, Maria Auxiliadora Delgado de Vasquez, who are making a five-day visit to Malaysia, here today.

Abdullah said the three ministers who were tasked by the cabinet to give legal input on the report by the three-man independent panel would give their views and suggestions at the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The prime minister said the members of the royal commission would be determined after its terms of reference were finalised.

Asked whether the government was pressured into establishing the commission by certain groups, Abdullah reiterated that the decision was based on the report submitted by the special panel.

"Before this we said that please wait for the panel to come up with its report. The report is out and based on its contents, it appears that it is appropriate to set up the royal commission, hence our decision," he said.

The special panel comprised former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor, social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and former Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar.

The three ministers asked to give legal input on the panel's report are Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and Home Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.

-- BERNAMA