Malaysia tempts whistleblower with Plastic surgery and a new identity ?

Malaysia has offered plastic surgery and a new identity to try to draw out the anonymous whistleblower behind a video clip purportedly showing judicial corruption, reports said Monday.

Cabinet minister Nazri Aziz said a probe into the clip will come to nothing if the whistleblower does not come forward to verify its authenticity, and assured they would receive full witness protection measures.

"They will not only be protected but can also undergo surgery to change their look," he said.

Nazri said that if the witness failed to come forward, "we can conclude that they are lying."

"The government will give the witness a new identity. So what is there to be afraid of?"

Eyebrows were raised when de facto law minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said the Witness Protection Bill would ensure the confidentiality of witnesses.

Mr Nazri, what witness protection bill? asks Malaysiakini.


Malaysian judiciary on trial

The authorities' reaction to this scandal has disappointed many who had hoped this would be a chance to restore confidence in the judiciary.
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Confidence in the judiciary has been eroding since the late '80s, when former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had the Chief Justice sacked.
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Instead, the government has reacted defensively, instructing the local media to play down the issue and questioning the authenticity of the video.

The authorities also say that it is not clear who the lawyer is talking to. However, the context of what is being said leaves no doubt about the identity of the person at the other end of the line.
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It is worth noting that although more than a week has passed since the video's release, neither the lawyer nor the judge has come out to directly deny the allegations. However, Mr Nazri Aziz, a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, has issued a denial on behalf of the judge.
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If the video is indeed fake, would one of the country's most powerful lawyers and one of its most senior judges not immediately deny the allegations and sue the people who released the video?
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Why the silence?

Perhaps more disturbing is Mr Abdullah's attitude towards this scandal. "If the evidence shows what transpired in the video was not the truth, action should be taken against those who released the video, as well as all those who lodged ACA (Anti Corruption Agency) reports," he said.

Abdullah said: "I am disappointed. The video was released with the aim of getting the people angry with the country's judiciary system."

What Mr Abdullah should have asked himself, is if there are serious questions about the judiciary's integrity, why shouldn't the people be angry? Indeed, why shouldn't he?


Restore the Malaysian Judiciary's Independence

1. To set up a tribunal under Article 125 of the Federal Constitution and for the immediate suspension of the Chief Justice pending the hearing of charges of corruption against him.

2. Setting up of an Independent Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the overall state of the Judiciary including but not limited to the following:

· the judicial sacking of Tun Salleh Abas, Tan Sri Wan Suleiman and Datuk George Seah in 1988;

· the swift and questionable promotions of several Federal Court judges;

· the controversial decisions which include the criminal cases involving Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Sukma Darmawan and Munawar Anees; Lim Guan Eng; the Ayer Molek case; the Metramac case, the defamation cases involving V.K. Lingam; the Altantuya case and others, and;

· An investigation into former judge, Syed Idid's letter which implicates 12 judges by citing 112 serious allegations of corruption and malpractice.

3. Setting up of an Independent Judicial Commission on the Appointment and Promotion of Judges.

Endorsed by:

1. Alaigal

2. Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN)

3. All Women's Action Society (AWAM)

4. Angkatan Muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat (AMK)

5. Artis Pro Activ

6. Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ)

7. Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)

8. Chinese Language Society University Malaya

9. Chinese Language Society University Putra Malaysia

10. Chinese Students Council University Technology Malaysia (CSC UTM)

11. Citizen Think Tank

12. Community Development Center (CDC)

13. Empower (Pusat Janadaya)

14. Food Not Bombs KL

15. Gabungan Anak Muda dan Pelajar (GAMP)

16. Gabungan Pekerja Kilang & Kesatuan(GPKK)

17. Gabungan Peneroka Bandar & Perumahan(GPBP)

18. Group of Concerned Citizen (GCC)

19. Institut Kajian Dasar (IKD)

20. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)

21. Jawatankuasa Kebajikan Mahasiswa/i (JKMI)

22. Jawatankuasa Sokongan Masyarakat Ladang(JSML)

23. LLG Cultural Development Center (LLG)

24. Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC)

25. Malaysian Voters Union (MALVU)

26. Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)

27. RAKAN, UTM

28. Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)

29. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

30. Penang Watch

31. Persatuan Alumni PBTUSM Selangor

32. Persatuan Ibubapa SJK(C) Malaysia

33. Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)

34. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor

35. Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP)

36. Pusat Khidmat Pekerja Tanjung (PKPT)

37. Pusat KOMAS

38. Selangor Hokkien Association Youth Section

39. Sisters In Islam (SIS)

40. SOS Damansara Committee

41. Save OurSelves (SOS) Penang

42. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

43. Tamil Foundation

44. Tenaganita

45. The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)

46. The National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)

47. University Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY)

48. Women Development Collective (WDC)

49. Writers Alliance Media Independence (WAMI)

50. Yayasan Kajian & Pembangunan Masyarakat (YKPM)

51. Youth for Change (Y4C)

52. Youth Section of The KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH-Youth)
(Source)