I must commend your columnist KJ John for his courage and wisdom in going against the tide of public opinion to call for circumspection before dragging a public official through the kangaroo court of the media.

Unlike John, I do not know the retiring director-general of the Customs and Excise Department personally. In fact, I have a lingering suspicion that the department in general may not be a paragon of integrity.

Nevertheless, I feel that this issue of 'lavish farewells' has to be dealt with as suggested by John. When I see the mainstream media going on a 'feeding frenzy' over some issue, for example APs, Khir Toyo and the rape of Bukit Cahaya Park, school computer labs, gambling politicians etc, I get the feeling that the media is simply dancing to someone's tune.

To use another metaphor, these issues are like a flash in the pan - they die off as suddenly as they started as if someone pulled the plug.

What I would really like to see is the media maintaining a sustained pressure over an issue such as corruption, misuse of public funds, human rights abuses etc, with irrefutable facts and figures until the issue is brought to closure.

That will give the media more credibility besides making Malaysia a little better.