I'M PREPARED TO BE INVESTIGATED AND CBARGED IN COURT, SAYS DR M

"By charging me in court, I will have the opportunity to explain many things that the judges did, including lobbying," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the post-election Umno forum organised by the Johor Umno Grassroots Members Action Front Federation and MykmuJohor.com.

Dr Mahathir hoped that investigations on him would not be stopped on grounds that there was no case.

"In that case, I will have no opportunity to explain what had happened, but instead if I was charged, then I can explain what I had done and what others did including the judges with regard to lobbying.

"I want to tell about the judges who had come to me to lobby. If lobbying is wrong, then these judges should be probed," he said when asked by reporters on the cabinet's directive to the Attorney-General to initiate immediate investigations into allegations on individuals named in the inquiry report.

Individuals named in the report are senior lawyer Lingam, former deputy minister in the prime minister's department Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, businessman Tan Sri Vincent Tan, two former chief judges Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin and Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir said he did not expect the judges who were lobbying had committed any wrongdoing as throughout his tenure as prime minister many people had approached him to lobby for positions whether for a minister's post, deputy minister and other government positions.

He said the decisions he made on the appointments, including that of judges, were based on his own assessment.

"My decision is based on my assessment. I don't care who lobbied or who spoke to me. If I decide that the individual concerned should be appointed, then I will appoint. If a person should not be appointed, eventhough he was recommended by the judge, I will not appoint.

"I am not a postman, when the chief judge recommends, I straight away approve and see the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the King endorses. If that is the case, it can be said the appointment of the chief judge is decided by the outgoing chief judge.

"Then, I don't have any role at all. I don't want to be a postman," he said. Asked on the recommendation by the royal commission that Vincent Tan and Tengku Adnan be investigated, Dr Mahathir said he did not know about their roles as they had never lobbied with him.

"Anybody can give their views on the appointment of anyone, the prime minister or future deputy prime minister," he said, adding that the present system of appointing judges was good.

"What makes the system to be flawed is the human element," he added.

About 2,000 people attended the forum including Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, former Kedah Menteri Besar Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, former NST Group editor-in-chief Datuk A.Kadir Jasin and former Parit Sulong MP Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad.

-- BERNAMA MHI SHY TOM