PUTRAJAYA: Tun Salleh Abas was sacked as lord president but obtained a pension on grounds of compassion, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"The judges were sacked as far as I know," Dr Mahathir said.
"The pensions were given on compassionate grounds.
"Now, he (Salleh) gets RM5 million and I'd like to congratulate him for that," he said with his trademark sarcasm.
"There was an appeal and we thought despite the fact that he was sacked, he had rendered service to the government for the years he was there.
"To cut him off completely and deny him pension would be very cruel, so it was decided that he and the other judges were paid their pensions," he said at the youth values and future leadership forum and the launch of the 2008 Salman Sayang Malaysia Charity Triathlon at the Perdana Leadership Foundation yesterday.
Salleh was removed from office for misconduct by a six-member tribunal.
komen: Tun Salleh Abbas ----> pak leh saja, patut dibuang gelaran Tun, dan dihentikan pencen. 5 juta makan tak abissssss!!!!