I fully support Aliran's objection to former attorney-general Abu Talib Othman being appointed the next chairperson of Suhakam. The reasons are well stated in Aliran's statement published by malaysiakini . For the benefit of the younger generation of Malaysians, Aliran or malaysiakini should recall the history of the destruction of the DP Vijandran video tapes in greater detail.

I also object to the appointment of Ramon Navaratnam, former secretary-general of the Treasury. After retiring from public service, Navaratnam has been closely and actively associating himself with Jeffrey Cheah, the tycoon behind the Sungai Way Group, and also ASLI (Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute), a self-styled think tank which is in fact a business lobby group for the crony enterprises of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's sons. Its executive director, Michael Yeoh, is also a former MCA member who crossed over to Gerakan a few years ago.

Navaratnam is not only closely linked to political business interests, but also an economic apologist for Mahathirs failed economic policies and megaprojects. His many 'patriotic' articles and books on the Malaysian economy contribute nothing substantial to the rethinking of failed policies and projects, but only intellectual sycophancy and political idolatry.

Is Malaysia so short of educated, popularly respected and also upright elites?