I refer to the Malaysiakini report, 'What crisis? I don't see any' .

The 'what crisis' minister claims that it is all a part of some 'opposition conspiracy' to erode public confidence in the Malaysian judiciary.

Didn't that same individual who made that incompetent remark, only days earlier, made another silly statement when he stated 'I'm his minister' when referring to the chief justice, confirming to the world that in Malaysia the judiciary is subservient to the executive?

It is also sad that he is among others in today's leadership who are totally confused regarding the provisions and tenets of the separation of powers between the executive, the legislation and the judiciary through his pronouncements.

Perhaps, it is the price we pay for the sins of 1988. But the reality is these pronouncements are more embarrassing when the minister concerned has had legal training.

Typically, not to be left out of this 'witch-hunting craze', we have another in the 'form and shape' of the information minister - certainly not known in the country for his 'intellectual and factual comments' - adding his almost ridiculous statement that the members of the Malaysian Bar should instead now probe their leaders for that brave Sept 26 'Walk For Justice' to the PM's Office.

Perhaps we cannot be surprised as these are the caliber of people representing us in Parliament and the country a group living in a state of continued denial and suffering from frequent bouts of amnesia since 1988.

Only they can serve a system that has from 1988 destroyed every bastion of 'check and balances' that was enshrined in the land post-independence to fulfill the 'personal and private political ambition' of one man, a system not dismantled since - one that breeds corruption, cronyism, abuse of power and all things alien, and contrary to the righteous teachings and tenets of mainstream religions and conventions.

But the fact remains that the Sept 26 'Dataran Putra' walk was a landmark act that sent 'shock and shivers' down the spine of members of the cabinet, politicians, the uniformed units, the self-professed guardians of the Malaysian morality and ethics, when they saw over 2,000 members of the Bar, legal academicians, leaders of NGOs, members of the civil society, bloggers, members of political parties which includes in all fairness, proactive individuals from component parties of the Barisan Nasional, students and ordinary people braved the thunderstorm, the possibility of 'injury and of assault' and the 'intimidation' of the unusual heavy presence of anti-riot police and a police helicopter hovering above.

The over 2,000 were saying to the powers-that-be that they wanted genuine changes in the country.

It is sad when one cannot admit that the Malaysian public confidence is all-time low and because of such incompetence shown by those who hold both political and professional office in the country even those who are just and sincere among the corridors of the judiciary are today being besmirched.

The sad reality is, despite the damage done since 1988, there is still reluctance to address the primary issues that came out of that infamous Lingam tape that the there is a 'black hand' at work, fixing or managing the process of judges appointment in Malaysia.

The truth remains that this crisis is not the work of the opposition as remarked by those who are certainly in my mind embarrassed at the pure unadulterated conversation of 'judge fixing' caught on tape and since making its rounds internationally.

In my mind, this is not the time for the spin-masters, neither for embarrassed politicians to spur 'verbal venom' against political opponents, or others to settle private political vendettas and scores.

It must be our national duty, a moment for corporate, personal and private reflection for an elected government to address the grievances and issues in its totality and work in hand with the civil society in a manner that is accountable, transparent, competent and right before God and man.

We owe this much to the people of Malaysia.

The writer is president, Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam, Selangor.