PENANG, June 12 (Bernama) -- Instead of setting up another royal commission to investigate High Court judge Datuk Ian Chin's revelation, the government should seriously consider establishing a Judiciary Complaints Commission (JCC) in addition to the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) already committed.

While expressing concern over the judge's revelation, Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said he agreed with the prime minister that it was better to move forward and focus on the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the VK Lingam video tape case.

In a statement released here Thursday, Koh said he had actually proposed the concept of JCC in addition to JAC in a dialogue between Gerakan leaders and the Bar Council in January and subsequently, the JCC proposal was included in the Bar Council's proposal to the government.

He felt that the proposed JCC would be able to perform a much needed function of receiving and investigating complaints against judges in an independent and professional manner.

"Recommendations for action can be made to the appropriate authorities," he said.

"While criminal threats or attempted bribery to judges can be referred to and dealt with by the police and the Anti-Corruption Agency under existing laws, the JCC will also enable judges and magistrates to have an avenue to complain should there be any interference from higher-ups in the judiciary hierachy or even the executive branch of government."

Koh said the existence of such a mechanism would also relieve the government of the burden to deal with complaints either way.

"The JCC together with the JAC will give a big boost to judiciary integrity," he added.

Koh also welcomes and supports de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's assurance that the bill to reinstate Article 121 of the Federal Constitution to restore judiciary independence will be tabled in the coming parliament sitting later this month.

It was reported that Chin had alleged that the then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had in 1997 threatened to punish judges for decisions he disliked.

Chin, 60, made the allegation at the start of proceedings on Monday when hearing an election petition in the Sibu High Court.