New evidence has surfaced that
confirms Mahathir's blatant interference in asking his Chief
Justice to step down, failing which he will be sacked. Following
the dismissal of the Chief Justice, two other Chief Justices of
Sabah and Sarawak were also sacked, including five other High Court
Judges that form the Court of Appeals were also summarily
dismissed.
The Star, 28 September 2006
Salleh reveals new
facts
KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Salleh Abas has expressed his thanks to Datuk
Seri Nazri Aziz for agreeing to a review of the 1988 Judicial
Crisis should new and important facts emerge.
And to fulfil this condition set by the Minister in the Prime
Ministers Department, the former Lord President issued a five-page
statement yesterday, touching on five incidents only in general
terms, which saw his dismissal and that of two other Supreme Court
judges.
Among the five incidents were that he had been asked to step down
by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during a meeting
on May 27, 1988 after being accused of being biased in the
discharge of his judicial duties.
Salleh: I hope the truth will be
uncovered
Salleh claimed he had strongly denied the accusation and refused to
resign but Dr Mahathir threatened to have him removed by
instituting a tribunal under the Constitution.
During the 1988 Judicial Crisis, Salleh was sacked from his post as
Lord President after a tribunal had tried him.
Another tribunal sacked Tan Sri Wan Sulaiman Pawanteh and Datuk
George Seah, two of five Supreme Court judges who had ordered a
halt to the proceedings against Salleh.
Salleh claimed a very important officer of the Government had
also paid him a visit on the same day as the meeting.
He said the officer tried to persuade him to resign by promising
him a lucrative job in Jeddah as a director of an Islamic bank with
a high salary I could never have dreamed of, coupled with
unlimited entertainment and travelling allowances.
Salleh said the officer, who told him he had been authorised to
pass the message to him by a very important minister, also
threatened him with dismissal and the ignominy of having to face a
tribunal after he declined the offer.
Apart from the incidents mentioned in his statement, Salleh said
there were also other incidents that would emerge if the review
were held.
I hope Nazri will present the proposal to the Cabinet for a review
of the 1988 Judicial Crisis so that the truth of this important
episode in our nations history is uncovered, Salleh
said.
The incorrigible Mahathir had the
audacity to confirm that he had actually performed the evil deed,
although the details of the private meeting he had with his Chief
Justice is somewhat murky.
The Star, 28 September 2006 Edition:
Dr M: I personally asked Salleh to
resign
PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he had personally asked Tun
Salleh Abas to resign from his post as Lord President in 1988 as he
thought it was the best move.
He said Salleh had first agreed to step down but a few days later
refused to do so, which prompted the Government to take the
necessary action to remove him.
He agreed first, then later on, I dont know how many days later,
he decided that he should not step down.
Then of course the Government was forced to take action, he said,
adding that Salleh did not give reasons as to why he had decided
against stepping down.
Dr Mahathir was responding to a statement by Salleh yesterday,
where he claimed he was asked to resign by the former
premier.
Salleh also claimed he was offered a high paying job as a director
of an Islamic bank in Jeddah if he resigned.
When asked about the job offer, Dr Mahathir said since Salleh had
refused to resign, it meant he did not want to take up the
job.
When asked if there was indeed such a job offer, Dr Mahathir said
he could not remember what he had exactly offered.
I dont remember exactly what I offered him but I did ask him to
step down so as to prevent any scandal or necessity to take action
(against him), he said, adding that he later started the necessary
process to remove Salleh as the Lord President.
Removal of a judge requires a decision by his peers as required by
the Constitution, so we have to abide by the Constitution.
The Agong thought that it was just a matter of dismissal by
me.
I dont have the power to dismiss anybody, any judge, he
said.
Dr Mahathir, who is the new president of Perkim, was speaking to
reporters here after breaking fast with Perkim members at the
Perdana Leadership Foundation here yesterday.
At the event, 40 converts also received cash aid and
goodies.
