Former attorney-general Abu Talib Othman has once again said that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad was not responsible for the removal of then lord president Salleh Abas.
His confirmation comes as Mahathir yesterday reiterated that he had not instructed for Salleh to be sacked, which had led to the 1988 judicial crisis.
"As I said, it is not true that Mahathir moved the removal or wanted Salleh removed, he was only complying with the command of the then Agong," Abu Talib said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur today.
Abu Talib (photo), however, insisted that he was not defending Mahathir in the matter.
"I'm not defending Mahathir, that's why I said you might not like it, but that's the fact. I'm not playing politics but using facts," he said.
The issue, he further added, was "history."
"Unfortunately, some people are politicising it and making it into a personal thing. It has been resolved in 1988, so why re-open it again?"
Abu Talib's explanation comes as Mahathir yesterday blamed him for using his name to sack Salleh.
The former attorney-general, however, insisted that he did not use Mahathir's name, as the prime minister then had to play a role in the setting up of a tribunal to examine a case that was made against Salleh.
Citing the constitution, Abu Talib states that the tribunal can only be established on a representation made by the prime minister.
"It's not true that I used his name without his knowledge, because I had to use his name and office for the purpose of setting up the tribunal," he said.
"The Attorney-General's Chambers - my office - prepared the documents. The communication with the palace was handled by the Prime Minister's Department."
Incident occurred 'many years ago'
When pointed out that Mahathir was now using his name to defend himself in the matter, Abu Talib merely said that the incident had occurred "many years ago."
"Can you remember every detail after so many years? This is one of the episodes during his time.
"Again, I say, I'm not defending him. I can't remember everything during my time as attorney-general, a lot of things happened.
"The fact is, it (the matter) was not initiated by Mahathir to remove Salleh," Abu Talib reiterated.
Mahathir yesterday said the incident had stemmed from a letter written by Salleh (photo) to the Agong and Malay rulers, allegedly complaining about the level of noise from renovation works at the Agong's private residence.
In an interview with Malaysiakini last year, Abu Talib said a meeting held among judges from the Supreme and High Courts had decided that Salleh should make a representation to the Agong, complaining of purported "attacks" by the executive on the judiciary.
The meeting was held after Mahathir submitted several constitutional amendments to Parliament, divesting the courts of the 'judicial power of the Federation' and thereby giving the courts only such judicial powers as Parliament might grant them.
In a letter addressed to the Agong, which was written by Salleh himself, the judges expressed their grievances over the executive's actions against the judiciary.
"That complaint seemed to have caused the displeasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Iskandar.
"He then referred that memorandum from Salleh to the prime minister with a command that appropriate action be taken on the basis of the complaint," said Abu Talib.
A tribunal was subsequently convened, which saw the removal of Salleh and two other judges. A second tribunal, convened a while later, saw the suspension of five judges and the subsequent sacking of two of them.- Mkini
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