Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad this morning took the witness stand at the royal commission of inquiry tasked to investigate the VK Lingam tape.

He is the ninth witness to appear before the commission on the fourth day of the inquiry. This is the first time that Mahathir is to account in court for his actions while in power.

At the outset of his testimony, Mahathir’s lawyer Tunku Sofiah Jewa read out a statement that the former premier would answer all questions posed to him. She added that he would even try to answer questions which were outside the ambit of the commission’s terms of reference.

However in the duration of his testimony, Mahathir’s response to various questions was that he could not remember or recall anything related to any particular incident in question.

Mahathir also told the commission this morning that while he obtain opinions from other people on judicial appointments - whether solicited or unsolicited - he made the final decision.

Despite a series of questions if he was influenced by anyone in the appointment of judges, Mahathir sharply said that the final decision was his alone.

“I don’t have to tell anyone as to why I made those decisions,” he said.

“I listen to unofficial views during conversations or at social gatherings. I consider the views but the final decision is mine,” he said.

Mahathir, who appeared calm and smiled at times, said the reasons for his decision are “something I don't tell people”.

“It is my prerogative. I don't have to explain why,” he said.

He was questioned on the appointments of Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim as the Chief Judge of Malaya and then subsequently as the Chief Justice. Mahathir was asked to justify the appointment on several other judges to the High Court.

'I could not remember'

Yesterday correspondence between Mahathir and the then Chief Justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah were tendered as evidence to the commission.

One of the letters showed that Mahathir had rejected two names forwarded by Mohamed Dzaiddin - Andrew Chew and Zainudin Ismail - and replaced them with others.

Lawyer VK Lingam was caught in a video-taped telephone conversation predicting that both Chew and Zainudin would not be appointed as they were seen to be from the “Dzaiddin camp”.

When asked why the names of Chew and Zainudin were dropped, Mahathir told the commission that he could not remember.

Lawyers also questioned Mahathir on his relationship with Lingam and whether he was influenced by the lawyer on the appointment of judges.

Later today, two other witnesses are expected to be called - former chief justice Mohd Eusoff Chin and Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

[Full report to follow]