> Karpal gets 57 signatures for debate on Zaki
KARPAL SINGH (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) today managed to get the signatures of 57 MPs -- a quarter of the total of 222 -- to file a motion under Standing Order 36(8) and Article 127 of the Federal Constitution to debate the conduct of Chief Justice Tan Sri Zaki Azmi.
At a press conference at the parliament lobby, Karpal said the 57 were made up of Pakatan Rakyat MPs as well as an independent MP from Sepanggar, Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun.
He said Article 127 of the Federal Constitution allows for the debate on the conduct of a judge with the support of one-fourth of the MPs.
“Such a subjective motion requires 14 days notice, so it will be on the order paper before the house adjourns in December," he said.
“I have given Zaki until today to step down (for his correctional statement clarifying that he was misinterpreted in a news report on Nov 8). So we have to take it further.
“We now want to debate Zaki as he (allegedly) lied (in his correctional statement) in his capacity as a chief justice.
“The clarification is clearly a lie, bringing the entire judiciary, of which he is the head, into disrepute."
Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat, Karpal had moved an emergency motion to debate the statement made by Zaki on Nov 7 on his alleged “experience” in bribing court officials when he was still a practising lawyer in 1987.
The emergency motion was rejected by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia on Nov 12 as the house was not allowed to debate the conduct of the judges unless a quarter of the total MPs supported it, as stipulated in the Federal Constitution.
Karpal also urged the prime minister to invoke the provision of Article 125(3) of the Federal Constitution to refer Zaki to a tribunal appointed by the King in accordance with clause 4 to remove him from office.
Asked if he felt that the motion will be read out and debated, Karpal said the speaker cannot reject the motion now.
“We will insist that it will be discussed even after the government business,” he said.
On whether he was in possession of a recording of Zaki's statement, he said: “We have the recording and since there is no denial from the chief justice, we accepted it as the truth."
Karpal also accused Minister in the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz of "lying again" when Nazri said a letter by the King to the chief secretary to the government was not made public for 20 years and, therefore, he did not know about the pensions paid to the sacked judges.
“A story was carried on The Star on Oct 7, 1988 that the King had ordered that pension to be given to the judges,” he said, adding that he will produce the paper cutting of the report tomorrow - the Sun.
