your say 'I can imagine Abdul Aziz Bari's frustration while lecturing law to his students - that the constitution is 'supreme' and the judiciary is an 'independent' institution.'

Nicholas Lim: BN supporters will regret the day Malaysia turns into a Zimbabwe where laws and regulations are used to coerce the population and protect the interests of the elite. Umno is the root cause of racism and corruption in the country and these have unfortunately infected the whole country after 52 years of Umno's grip on power.

Umno trying to reform (via its National Key Results Areas initiative [NKRA]) is a laudable move but laughable in the face of government inaction against its own warlords and racial supremacists.

If the BN supporters truly love Malaysia and truly love the multi-cultural coalition called Barisan Nasional, then it is in everyone's best interest that BN is ousted from federal power in the next elections.

This will give room and space for reformers to push out the warlords and reform Umno and reform BN. Agreed?

Multi Racial: Abdul Aziz Bari, I salute you for having the courage to speak up. In Malaysia, we have many smart people but most use their smarts to take care of themselves but not the country.

Malaysia needs more like yourself to speak out to the general public. The majority are 'blinded' especially when the government-controlled media only disseminates government agenda.

The conduct of the Court of Appeal lately has brought shame to the country. There are only a few brave judges who willing to do the right thing. I am sure there are also many in the government service who are unhappy with the work of their colleagues especially those corrupted colleagues. Expose them. This country needs good people to take the lead.

Harry Koay: The only difference between Malaysia and Zimbabwe is we don't have inflation rate of 1,000 percent. Needless to say, the rest of the comparison to them are the same. Well said, professor!

Maggie Lim: Hats off to you, professor, for daring to call a spade a spade. It is refreshing to see sensible and rational Malays these days speaking up against the wrongs in our country. Our government needs to change or we are surely going down.

Malaysians need to unite or we cannot compete against the growing economies outside. We need a clean country to bring in foreign investments. If we love our children, then we must save Malaysia.

Cala: Prof Abdul Aziz, thank you for your enlightened piece. I agree with you that the group that is refusing to give up its stranglehold on power is the Umno elites.

They, after all, stand to benefit most from the plunder of the nation and by destroying our institutions such as the judiciary, the police, the MACC, the Election Commission, the Attorney-General's Chamber and of late, the hospitals.

But despair not. Slowly but surely as more get to be uncovered for who they really are, their day of reckoning shall not be that far away.

Fair: Abdul Aziz Bari shouldn't compare us with Zimbabwe's hardships. We have four meals a day, surf the Internet, pick and choose our jobs even during a crisis, have two million migrant workers and hang out at Old Town White Coffee, etc.

But then, when PKR's dreams come true and they take over the government, I can see lawlessness, taking to the streets, pillaging, burning cars (the last time they were throwing stones at cars and burning rubbish all purportedly because of limited freedom) and calling BN supporters names. Never mind, BN will continue to rule.

Zaharudin Othman: What should happen is that the country should dissolve all the lower courts, including the High Court since almost all their decisions are now not in favour of the BN government. Just turn over all these cases to the Federal Court. Save time and just let the Federal Court rule at the first instance.

Gk: I can imagine Abdul Aziz Bari's frustration while lecturing law to his students - that the constitution is 'supreme' and the judiciary is an 'independent' institution.

So can we say that it is too late to change the present regime if Malaysia is like Zimbabwe? To me, I don't want to reach the level of Zimbabwe. Let's change the government before it's too late then.

Habib RAK: Well said, prof. The only way to remedy this situation is by electing Pakatan Rakyat to rule Malaysia. Then, as defined by Pakatan, the Common Policy Framework will help restore credibility to all the institutions and help bring about a good sense of civilisation.

Robert L: The comparison is quite appropriate with regards to the deplorable state of our judiciary. Not too long ago, a certain critic who has forgotten his roots, degraded India's democracy but at least that great nation can be very proud of its independent judiciary.

Have mercy on my beloved Malaysia for we are clueless as to where we are heading.