(Petaling Jaya, Sunday): DAP regrets that the former Attorney-General from 1980 to 1993, Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman who is also the Chairman of Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and played a key role in the sacking of the then Lord President Tun Salleh Abas and two Supreme Court judges, Wan Suleiman Pawanteh and George Seah under directives from former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, rejected the call by the Malaysian Bar to review the 1988 Judiciary Crisis.

Abu Talib did not deny his involvement in the matter, but said, “What do you want to ask? It has all been settled.” But in fact, there are a lot of questions, including how the justice system of the country was destroyed to the extent which damaged democracy and the rule of law, why did the executive has had to attack on the judiciary and how could it undermined the independence of the judiciary, still unsettled and definitely unanswered.

 

Since Bar Council President Yeo Yang Poh asked the government to probe the Judiciary Crisis of 1988, his call has received a strong backing from legal experts and even retired judges, including the sacked Lord President Tun Salleh Abbas, former Court of Appeal judge Shaik Dauh Md Ismail, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy and several non-governmental organizations.

 

This is clear that the Judiciary Crisis has yet to be settled. Even though Abu Talib Othman argued that “it was done in accordance with the constitutional requirement”, but we strongly believe that these judges in asserting their independence were sacrificed by those behind the political storm at the time, and not as what

 

To undo the damage caused and to restore the justice system to what it once was, DAP will organize a forum on “The 1988 Judiciary Crisis: To Review or Not?” on 7.30 pm, 11 September 2006 at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, No. 1, Jalan Maharajalela, Kuala Lumpur.

 

The panel speakers including Minister in the Prime Minister Department, Dato’ Seri Mohamad Nazri Abdul Aziz, Parliamentary Opposition Leader YB Lim Kit Siang, Mr Yeo Yang Poh, DAP National Chairman YB Karpal Singh, Immediate Past UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges & Lawyers Datuk Param Cumaraswamy, President of National Human Rights Society Malik Imtiaz and Counsel for Tun Salleh Abbas Mr Tommy Thomas.

 

DAP had faxed an invitation letter to Abu Talib Othman few days before for inviting him to attend this forum in the capacity of Suhakam Chairman. We are looking forward to his presence and let the truth behind the Judiciary Crisis be gleaned from lively debates, and not simply say ‘no’ to review the incident. Only then, the concensus will be formed in the midst of discussions and arguments.

 

(10/09/2006)