I refer to the report 'Rashid unhappy with judgment' in The Star today. I am impartial to the case at hand, but I support the upholding of the sanctity of the judicial system, or whatever little dignity it has been left with after events in recent times.

The entire Election Commission machinery must be seen to be totally unbiased. For the chairperson Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman to publicly condemn the findings of a judge is totally uncalled for.

(Election Court Justice Muhammad Kamil Awang on June 8 nullified the Likas election results.)

It appears to the masses that Rashid is personally interested in or is interfering with the dispute of a candidate or his party.

For a man of such authority and position to make statements such as "...if I have the freedom to rebut his findings, then the case could be easily turned upside down" is to tango on the border of contempt. The innuendo is deafening.

What about laymen's rights?

There appears to be a trend for people in power to comment suggestively on court rulings. If a layman like me does it, will I be guaranteed the same freedom? Whither the wisdom of 'leadership by example'?

For the good of the nation, and for the elimination of washing dirty linen in public, may the EC chairperson's statement be the final nail in the coffin of undiplomatic attacks on the judiciary.

The media, too, should play its role by keeping such provocative matters out.