The Attorney-General today said that allegations by Sabah High Court judge Muhammad Kamil Awang that a telephone 'caller' had sought to influence his judgment in a court case was still under investigation by the police.

"The police are still continuing with their investigations," Ainum Mohd Saaid told reporters today after presenting a speech at the 11th Malaysian Law Conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Muhammad's judgment on June 8 ruled that the 1998 electoral roll for Likas was illegal and accordingly declared the election for the Sabah constituency null and void.

He also said he had been pressured to reject the complaints filed by two defeated candidates but did not say by whom. Muhammad retired on June 25.

In the wake of the controversy, former chief justice Eusoff Chin conceded that he did call Muhammad to discuss the court case, but it was merely to ask the ex-High Court judge to "expedite" the matter.

The issue caused a stir in the judiciary prompting Chief Justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah to say that he would be looking into the matter after the police have concluded their investigations.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, however, chided the judge when he included personal remarks in his court decision, such as allegations that his son's request for a work permit in Sarawak and that his daughter's request for a scholarship was turned down.

New forms of colonialisation

At today's conference, Ainum told over 200 participants that in a globalised world, the existence and the development of human rights illustrated the process of denationalisation.

"These activities work toward a global good, in complete disregard for national boundaries. Indeed, the human rights movement often attempt to expose national governments to world appraisal," she said in her paper on the relationship between globalisation and law.

She added that modern communication and technology had fuelled the globalisation process and contributed to the growth of civil society.

"Through the use of this technology the individual, it is suggested, liberates himself by espousing globally, values which promote democracy, individual rather than state interests, human rights rather than state rights.

"It is also necessary to remind ourselves constantly about the existence of communities or countries which have been adversely affected by the process of globalisation," Ainum said.

According to her, many of these marginalised communities view globalisation as a new form of colonisation.