I REFER to your report “No word yet from AG to probe Lingam six” (NST, May 23).

In this connection, I am strongly in favour of the suggestion by Tunku Abdul Aziz, former chairman of Transparency International, that the government should engage outside resources (experts and professionals) instead of the attorney-general to undertake the necessary follow-up action recommended by the Royal Commission on the Lingam video clip (”Appoint special prosecutors” — NST, May 20).

Such a step, I believe, is the most appropriate and logical, at least for two reasons.

First, such outsourcing will help reduce the burden of the Attorney-General’s Chambers which is already overworked and inundated with a backlog of cases.

Second, we want to ensure the work is carried out speedily and in the most impartial manner with the highest level of professionalism, without fear or favour.

We need to restore public confidence in our judiciary quickly and decisively.

The government must show that it means real business and not business as usual.

The people have very high expectations of the outcome of the Royal Commission Report and expect that appropriate punishment is meted out to those guilty of breaking any laws, regardless of race, creed or colour, be it under the Sedition Act 1948, the Prevention of Corruption Act 1961, the Legal Profession Act 1976, the Official Secrets Act 1972 or any other.

Any delay in action taken on this specific issue would be a real setback to the restoration of public confidence in the judiciary.

It would also make a mockery of the government’s declared policy and commitment towards transparency, accountability, integrity and good governance.

NORAMTAZ ABDULLAH, Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – May 28, 2008