Friday 18 April 2008

Ex Gratia Payment Is Not An Apology, Says Najib

The ex gratia payment by the government for six former judges involved in the 1988 judicial crisis is not a form of apology to them, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Friday.

"The ex gratia payment does not tantamount to revisiting whatever that has been decided. It is not to be construed as any form of apology but this is our way of addressing some of their personal considerations and some of the personal experiences, hardship that they have gone through.

"That is all..so it is to be seen in that light. It should not be construed as anything beyond that," he told reporters after witnessing the signing of a joint-venture agreement between automakers Chery Automobile Co Ltd and Alado Corporation Sdn Bhd, here.

The six former judges were the late Tan Sri Eusoffe Abdoolcader and Tan Sri Wan Suleiman Pawanteh, and Tun Salleh Abas, Tan Sri Azmi Kamaruddin, Tan Sri Wan Hamzah Mohamed and Datuk George Seah.

On the setting up of a Judicial Appointments Commission he said:

"The formation of this commission, it must be emphasised, is only in an advisory capacity. The final authority still lies with the prime minister to make the formal recommendation to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and the Council of Rulers."

On Thursday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the government, apart from paying the ex gratia to the six former judges, would set up a Commission to nominate, appoint and promote judges in a transparent and representative manner.

(bernama has the story here)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

So you people dont get overly excited. Najib is telling it as it is.

That ex-gratia thingy is not an apology. Just payment for the pain those poor judges endured the last 20 years.

And the commission? Just an advisory body. The final decision still lies with the PM.

Lol!

Hi&Lo said...

Ex gratia payment for what? If the six former highly esteemed judges suffered for their indiscretion, then why should the govt pay them?

The commission is only a window dressing. So, the agenda is questionable.

Wakmasnoor said...

It make no sense to constitute 'Gratia Payment' to an apology. Although it symbolized the same meaning (in a way of course), the weight was of no similarity.

Its over. The recognition of truth is what matter. We shouldn't prolonged and politicized the issue any longer than it should be.

The govt has gone extra miles on that in agreeing to the setting up of the special commission of judges (as part of the so-called Judiciary reforms). Although, not completely transparent on the norm practiced and purposed of it; it was still a great start, not just to the intent of it, but Judicial as a whole.

Anonymous said...

Najib is just stating the obvious. No point faulting the wimp for again being the one chosen to cover the collective arses of this administration.

This recompensation (with or without apology) is not righting any wrong. There is no moral victory.

If anything, it just confirms that there is a price tag on everything, including honour and justice.

Only another Tribunal can reverse the judgement of the earlier Tribunal. Anything less is just a bleeping PR exercise.

What a farce!

Anonymous said...

Najib emphasised that the formation of this judicial appointments commission is only at an advisory capacity. The final authority still lies with the prime minister to make the formal recommendation to the King and the Conference of Rulers.

If this is true, then we might as well forget about this commission.

Anonymous said...

What seperation? ... the names from the Commission still go to the PM.

And YES, only a Tribunal can reverse the decision made by other Tribunal. Any contempt here? The Chairman of that Tribunal was the person next in line. In the end, he took over. Too many flaws.

What SPB Tuanku Mizan has got to say ... PM reversing the Perintah by the then SPB Tuanku Mahmud Iskandar.

I have posted in 3540 Jalan Sudin,the letter from LP that started it all and in Rocky's Bru SPB's letter to the former PM for the sacking of Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas.