Abdullah: There should be no trial by media against six
By The Sunday Star
Sunday May 18, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister said there should be no trial by the media against the six people to be probed as a result of recommendations in report by the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the V.K. Lingam video clip.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he did not want any public prosecution or persecution by the media, as it would be unfair to make assumptions or hurl accusations at them.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi “That sort of thing should not happen,??? he said yesterday, after delivering his closing remarks at the end of the 11th MSC Malaysia International Advisory Panel Meeting.
He also said the people and the media should not carry out their own investigations.
“Just wait for the Attorney-General’s report,??? he said.
The Cabinet had agreed that investigations be carried out into all the allegations against former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam, tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and former Chief Justices Tun Eusoff Chin and Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim.
Abdullah said the position of Tengku Adnan as Umno secretary-general would be decided after the investigations were completed.
On whether Dr Mahathir as former prime minister was immune from prosecution, Abdullah said the Attorney-General would inform the Government of the investigations.
Abdullah said there were a number of recommendations in the commission’s report that he agreed with, such as action be taken to improve the state of the judiciary.
He said some action had already been taken and it was up to the Government to act on the recommendations but declined to reveal more because he wanted to wait for advice from the Attorney-General.
On the Prime Minister’s Department’s decision to lodge a police report against several newspapers for publishing the findings of the commission before the report was made public, Abdullah believed it was “not right??? for the press to publish it before the Government decided whether to make the report public.
He said the police report was made because the department felt the newspapers’ move was inappropriate and a breach of the law.
When it was relayed that the media had not violated the Official Secrets Act (OSA) by publishing the report early because it was not a classified document, Abdullah replied: “You can argue that, and the other side can argue, too. The fact is that we have to see first the report before we make it public.???
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the police would record statements from government administrators, Royal Commission members as well as the printers to find out who leaked the report.
“I also appeal to editors and reporters who have information to come forward and assist us,??? he said.
In Kota Baru, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said the Government had to stem the leak of sensitive information that could cause unease among the public if misinterpreted.