Di petik dari THE STAR ON~LINE

PM in the dark about appointment of new CJ

SHAH ALAM: Prime Minister Datuk Dr Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday said that he had not been informed of the appointment of the new Chief Justice.

"I do not know. I have not been informed,'' he said when asked whether the Government had confirmed the appointment of the new Chief Justice.

Chief Justice Tun Eusoff Chin, whose term of office was extended for six months, ends his service on Dec 20.

On Nov 9, the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal had issued a press statement announcing that the Conference of Rulers had approved the appointment of Federal Court Justice Tan Sri Dzaiddin Abdullah as Eusoff's replacement.

Asked who would replace Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah as Attorney-General when his term expires, Dr Mahathir said: "I don't know. There is still ample time for that.''

He said this after the launch of the gold bullion coin by the Royal Mint of Malaysia at the Kompleks Bank Negara here.

On the possibility of a bonus payment to civil servants, Dr Mahathir said it was up to the Finance Ministry.

When queried further, he said that it would depend on the government's financial standing.

Asked about rumours that Government would not pay a bonus, but a smaller sum of money to help civil servants buy books for their children when school reopened, Dr Mahathir answered: "The Finance Ministry is studying the matter.''

On Malaysian doctors practising overseas who were keen to return home, Dr Mahathir said that most were not interested in serving the Government.

"These doctors are already getting high income from their services overseas. They want to come home and open private practice,'' he added.

Asked about claims that the Malaysian Medical Association was slow in issuing the practising certificates to the doctors coming back from overseas, Dr Mahathir replied:"MMA has to verify the qualifications, but the certificates will be issued eventually.''