I refer to the Malaysiakini report Param: Seek accountability, not apology .

From my point of view, I find it highly encouraging that the de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim, has suggested the possibility of the present Barisan Nasional (BN) government making an apology to those members of the Malaysian judiciary who were apparently wronged by the BN government during the nineteen eighties period.

I applaud his suggestion and the good intentions behind it, as I see it as a welcome move in the right direction from the preset government to foster good governance and build transparent accountability.

However, I would like to remind him respectfully that the Malaysian people, too, were let down collectively by their elected government of the day - and in my view, undeservedly and embarrassingly - in this rather sordid and dark episode in the nation’s history.

So as a Malaysian citizen - and on the assumption that Zaid is indeed genuine about obtaining a sincere apology - I respectfully suggest that he consider the following recommended steps to initiate a healing process based on the two important bulwarks of integrity and credibility:

1. An unreserved public apology to the Malaysian people from the present prime minister apologising unconditionally for any and all abuses of delegated democratic power entrusted to BN-politicians and the BN government, who were elected in good faith by the Malaysian people to administer, govern and serve them and their country.

2. Unreserved personal and public apologies from the relevant people concerned, and backed up by appropriate offers of compensation based on a punitive scale of exemplary damages, to each member of the judiciary who was wronged, victimised and publicly humiliated and punished for doing their job and carrying out their public duty - which was in essence to stand up for the rule of law and to safeguard Malaysia’s democratic system against abuses of executive power by the BN government of the time (led by the then prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad).

3. Set up (preferably sooner rather than later) an independent panel/royal commission to investigate in depth and in an open and transparent manner, the incidents and circumstances leading to the abuse of executive power against members of the judiciary and against Malaysia's judicial independence.

4. Bring to book under the rule of law and hold accountable all and any past or present elected official and individual whom the body/commission finds to have clearly transgressed or overstepped the acceptable boundaries of the delegated power entrusted to them and/or who may have acted in a manner construed to be prejudicial to the national interest of Malaysia and the Malaysian people.

5. Set-up an independent body, demarcated into two sub-parts possibly, and ideally comprising a mixture of Malaysian and international experts to look into the repairs required to fix the present holes in the judiciary and to look into a new systemic process for enabling and ensuring judicial independence.

This approach would, I believe, be a good, reassuring model start toward addressing some of the important points and concerns around this highly sensitive issue. So if you are reading this at all Mr Zaid Ibrahim - I think that the proverbial ball is now clearly in your court.