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Malaysiakini still has not the Breaking News yet and still on

Emasculated judiciary - Dr M’s legacy Sep 25, 07 10:11am
= == == = == Latest from PPP

NewsFlash.- 2.00pm

Najib: 3-Member Independent Panel Headed by Former CJ Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor - probe authenticity video clip; other members National Service Council Chairman Tan Sri Lee Land Thye, and former Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar

ABOVE: DPM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak making the announcement in a media conference in Putra Jaya. This of course is after discussion with PM Abdullah who has left for the UN General Assembly meeting last night. Another damage control exercise to pacify the growing criticism being level in and outside the Government: BELOW: Partial view of those attending - the Chief Secretary was there & the wire agency Reuters has a mike there

Najib: 3-Member Independent Panel Headed Former CJ Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor - probe authenticity video clip; other members Lee L Thye, Hanker

September 25, 2007 13:59 PM

Govt To Set Up Independent Panel To Investigate Video Clip

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The Government is setting up a three-member independent panel, headed by former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor, to investigate the authenticity of the video clip featuring a lawyer discussing with a senior judge on judges' appointments, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in Putrajaya today.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the panel would be headed by former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor, with former Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar and prominent social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye as members. "This decision was made as the allegations and speculations on the video clip can arouse doubts on the credibility and integrity of the country's judicial system," he told a press conference. Najib said the panel would start their duties soon and would prepare a detailed report to the government on the controversial video clip. "The panel's findings expected to be known in a few weeks will be made public," he said. The eight-minute clip, recorded in 2002, was posted on the Internet last week after an opposition party exposed the video recording.The Deputy Prime Minister said the panel would conduct full-scale investigations to establish the authenticity of the video recording. Asked whether the people implicated in the video would be called up by the panel, he said the panel would do whatever necessary. To a question, Najib said the Government had no intention to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the matter. The Government felt it was sufficient to set up the panel, he said.

On the Bar Council's plan to stage a protest march and submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office here tomorrow, demanding the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the video clip controversy, he said it was up to the Bar Council and the authorities to decide on such actions.

= == = = == = =and from STAR

Independent panel to probe lawyer video; By V.P. SUJATHA
PUTRAJAYA: A special independent panel has been formed to probe and determine the authenticity of the video tape showing a senior lawyer purportedly brokering judges' appointments, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The three-member panel will be headed by former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor. National Service Council chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and former Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar are the other two members.

Najib said panel member, who had accepted their appointments, would soon start investigating the matter with the support and cooperation of all agencies concerned. Their findings would be made public later, he added.