Ex-Auditor General's son says father has short-term memory
Published on: Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Putra Jaya: The son of former auditor-general Tan Sri Ishak Tadin who is the last witness, told the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) that his father was unable to testify due to his health condition.Rizal, who is Ishak's second child, explained to the five-man tribunal that his 85-year-old father could not testify as he was having short-term memory.He said his father started having cognitive impairment sometime in 2007 and he was unable to recollect many events from the past.
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Ishak was auditor-general between 1986 and 1994.Rizal said that his father remembers the event but he could not remember the details.Rizal told the RCI that it was in the best interest that the panel considered another alternative.He said his father thought he was 70 years old, but he was 85 years old.
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"But when it comes to details of the work, as part of the therapy, I talk about his work so he can relate and get energised," he said.When asked by RCI conducting officer Datuk Suhaimi Ibrahim whether he could produce medical reports to verify his father's condition to the panel, Rizal responded that he was able to do so.
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In today's proceeding, the RCI panel led by Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan also addressed several issues raised by counsel Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla representing former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.Mohamed Haniff had urged Mohd Sidek to retract or cancel his "conclusion" remark he had made on the forex losses amounting to at least RM31.5 billion between 1991 and 1994 on the first day of the proceedings on Aug 21 this year.After deliberating the matter about 20 minutes, Mohd Sidek said the RCI would make its final conclusion after it concluded its report."The issue of "conclusion" does not arise. RCI would have its conclusion in its report," he said.Haniff Khatri had also urged the RCI to lodge a police report against the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) over a statement in the Malaysiakini report on Sept 8 quoting Jasa director-general Mohd Puad Zarkashi who had among others accused former BNM adviser Nor Mohamed Yakcop of trying to protect Dr Mahathir over the forex scandal.Mohd Sidek however said there was no necessity to lodge a police report."May be there are many things written outside, especially in this cyber era. I never heard before this, the issue raised by counsel I did not know (about), the other panel members (too) didn't know. They are not of relevance to us," he said.On Haniff Khatri's request to recall former deputy governor Datuk Abdul Murad Khalid to the stand to be questioned further, Mohd Sidek said the commission did not intend to recall the witness to the stand.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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