Long-running feud within Malaysian judiciary surfaces

Malaysia's top judge accused his predecessor yesterday of deceit, strengthening suspicions of long-running feuds in the judicial hierarchy.

Speculation senior judges have secretly jostled for power became public after opposition politicians leaked a video clip in September that showed a man who appears to be prominent lawyer V.K. Lingam boasting about helping a high-ranking judge advance his career.

Dzaiddin Abdullah, Malaysia's chief justice between 2000 and 2003, testified yesterday at a public inquiry ordered by the government to investigate the clip, in which Lingam apparently claims that Dzaiddin "hates" his predecessor, Eusoff Chin.

"I don't hate him, but I dislike him," Dzaiddin said. "He keeps telling not the truth [sic]."

Dzaiddin that Eusoff -- who was chief justice between 1994 and 2000 -- lied to him throughout those years about recommending him as a candidate for coveted state honors.

Eusoff's said they would seek his instructions about whether to respond to Dzaiddin's claims.

Lingam told the inquiry that he refuses to confirm or deny whether he is the man in the video, claiming he cannot recall the incident.

Nevertheless, he has denied brokering the appointment of judges, saying he could have been drunk and falsely bragging in the video.

In the video, the man identifies the speaker on the other end of the phone as Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, Malaysia's No. 3 judge at the time.

Ahmad Fairuz became chief justice in 2003 and retired last year.

Ahmad Fairuz has denied he was the person speaking to Lingam or that he conspired with others to elevate himself.

Ahmad Fairuz testified at the inquiry yesterday that he was not aware of any factions in the judiciary, and stressed it would not be easy to manipulate judicial appointments.