Wednesday, January 16, 2008

The Mahathirs and VK Lingam go back a long way, contrary to Tun's "I only got to know him recently"

Bernama reported on 17 Jan 2008:

Leong: Do you know V.K. Lingam?

Dr Mahathir: I've heard about him in the newspapers involving several cases. I only got to know him recently when I engaged his services in a civil suit filed against me by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.



However, in 1999 (9 years ago) , the same Bernama reported:
KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) - Mirzan Mahathir, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad's eldest son, has filed an affidavit-in-reply in connection with his RM150 million libel suit against printer Star Papyrus Printing Sdn Bhd.

The affidavit-in-reply was filed by lawyer Datuk V. K. Lingam at the High Court Registrar's Office at Wisma Denmark here yesterday.(Source:MIRZAN FILES AFFIDAVIT-IN-REPLY IN RM150 MILLION SUIT.
16 March 1999,BERNAMA Malaysian National News Agency)

On March 25, 1999, THE SUN, then still owned by Messrs Vincent Tan,VK Lingam et al reported:
Businessman Mirzan Mahathir is suing three Chinese dailies for damages totalling RM750 million for alleged defamation in articles they published about his business activities.

The suits are against China Press, Guang Ming Daily News, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Pemandangan Sinar Sdn Bhd which is the publisher and printer of Sin Chew and the printer for Guang Ming. In the suits filed by Messrs V.K. Lingam & Co in early February, Mirzan also sought injunctions to restrain all the defendants from further publishing the alleged defamatory words.
(Source:Mirzan sues Chinese papers.
By N.Puspa Malar ,25 March 1999
The Sun)


See also story concerning VK Lingam, Vincent Tan, Mokzhani Mahathir and this writer titled "Who Is More Important in Bolehland: Crony or Sibling?" by MGG Pillai at
http://www.malaysia.net/lists/sangkancil/1999-03/msg00924.html



Also reported in 2001:
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he has accepted the apology from The Sun and does not think any action will be taken against the newspaper for publishing a story on an alleged plot to kill him and the Prime Minister......Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he was satisfied with the action of a few top level media practitioners of The Sun newspaper who resigned...."Well, I'm satisfied but it should not happen again... that is important," Bernama quoted him as saying.

After conducting preliminary investigations, the Board of Directors were satisfied that there was no foundation or basis to warrant the publication of the said article. This paper carried a prominent front page apology to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and their respective families.

The board of directors had on Thursday appointed a very prominent lawyer Datuk V. Kanagalingam (also known as Datuk V.K. Lingam) as the deputy chairman of the company together with Mr Frankie Tay Thiam Siew as the executive director of the company.

Datuk Lingam is an expert in media and corporate law and has vast experience in the corporate sector.

Datuk Lingam and Frankie Tay will now guide The Sun in establishing itself as a responsible newspaper to the nation.

((Source:DPM accepts - The Sun's apology - Action not likely for report - on alleged assassination plot. 30 December 2001
The Sun)

1 comment:

Unknown said...

The truth is Eusoffe and company were corrupt to the core and all decisions made by his team may be tainted and has to be revisited. However,the "Royal Commission" purportedly inquiring into Lingam's frolics on the mobile phone is nothing but a sham. In Malay we say tipuyong.They have no intention to get to the rot as the stench could be over powering. I think we are at a stage that it would be respectable to lock the courts and head to the banyan tree where judges can appear in their sarongs where honorary titles have no relevance but justice would surely be done under the banyan tree. Shame on you Eusoffe, Dzaiddin and Fairuz. You should be lock up for treason. You have violated the teachings of Islam and your oath of office!