No sooner had the spirit of the nation been lifted by the historic 'Walk for Justice' in Putrajaya on Sept 26 than it was doused by the Malaysian Bar president's hasty acceptance (the same day) of the three-member 'independent' panel hurriedly announced by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak the previous day.

Najib's so-called independent panel is a ploy to deflect the real target of cleansing our corrupt judiciary, which has been crippled by dictates of the Executive.

By accepting the panel, the Bar has placed its own demand for a Royal Commission of Inquiry in abeyance, weakened the position of others with a similar demand and dampening the fervour for change that has rapidly gathered momentum across a wide spectrum of society since the exposure of the 'Lingam tape' by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim on Sept 19.