When I hear David Boies, the lead counsel for Al Gore, stressing the need for all to respect the ruling of the US Supreme Court - it being the highest court of the land, despite being on the losing end both times (thus far), I can't help but reflect on the sad state of our Malaysian judiciary.

No analysis, comments or articles by non-governmental organisations or influential individuals who have spoken about the Anwar's judicial battles have given any hint why he lost those battles.

It is not an exaggeration to say that most Malaysians now think the judiciary as an extension of the executive branch and is subservient to it and takes orders and directions from it, at least in the high profile cases of recent years.

Perhaps the controversy surrounding the appointment of the new Chief Justice is a good omen and indicative that we may yet come to respect the judiciary as it was before the infamous 1988 removal of Tun Salleh Abbas and the subsequent 'attack' on the judiciary.

Bayan Lepas