It’s only the first meeting for the three-man independent panel and yet, so many critical questions went unanswered which create even more doubts. Among them are:

1. How do we expect an independent panel to conduct a thorough investigation when it has no legal power, no power to call witness, no power to administer oaths and no immunity under the lawyer as confessed by one of the panel member Mahadev Shankar?
2. Why the establishment of an independent panel with so many hoo-ha if the primary and the only objective is merely to investigate the authenticity of the "Lingam video"?
3. As the panel is powerless to call for witness, they can only pray hard for witnesses to come forward and testify. The question is, why should the people come forward when the independent panel can’t protect them from prosecution?
4. Why the knee-jerk reaction from the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) where instead of picking up the senior lawyer VK Lingam for further questioning, they’re quizzing messengers like PKR vice-president R Sivarasa and Anwar’s aide Sim Tze Tzin as reported by Malaysiakini? Click here to read blogger Elizabeth Wong’s take on this, in which she calls it "the game of catch the whistleblower".
5. What’s the transparency level for the independent panel to carry out their duties when investigations would be conducted on close door basic and the outcome will be submitted only to the Government?

Anyway, as far as we Malaysians are concern, the "Lingam Video Part 1" has created several eruption response from NGOs, activists, bloggers and more importantly, Bar Council which demands nothing less than a royal commission.

The biggest bombshell is yet to come where the "Lingam Video Part 2" still remains in the cold storage, however not without some tit-bits when it was revealed by PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim that Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim’s name was explicitly mentioned.

The Government is smart enough to know the impact when the "tell-all session" is going to happen as undeniably, up to this stage, it’s an uncharted path on the Government’s part.

So, as much as it’s going to be the horse mouth’s Nazri Aziz intention as the self-appointed spokeperson to deny the existence of any judiciary crisis, the investigation outcome by the independent panel would be essential in helping shaping public opinion towards the Government’s sincerity and determination to give us a transparent, fair and independent judiciary system, in which otherwise is going to hurt the Barisan Nasional’s government image in this coming general election.

That bloody old man is back to his usual antics.

The next day Works Minister S Samy Vellu asking Malaysians to expect a 10% increase in toll rates from Jan 1 next year, he reversed his statement.

"We will not increase the toll rates by Jan 1 next year until we get Cabinet approval," he said.

Then, the DPM Najib Tun Razak put the blame on the people by questioning the toll speculation.

"Why do you speculate? No (there is no increase) … wait until the Cabinet decides," he told reporters when questioned on the toll increase.

Pi mai pi mai tang tu.

The Star’s Wong Chun Wai, who has been appointed acting Group Chief Editor with effect from today, starts his first day in new shoes talking about the son-in-law’s new born son.

Yesterday, he ended his stint as The Star’s Deputy Editor in Chief with his Sunday column that talks about the possibility of the Myanmar’s military government being toppled, in which Jeff Ooi juxtaposed the article with the recent shooting Batu Buruk incident.

By the way, not only Chun Wai, The Star always has a liking for KJ Junior, even about the sex of baby when it’s still in the womb.

The best of The Star’s GEIC? Too early to tell but you bet.

"I want to eat in private," Tun Dr. Mahathir said to his doctors.

According to a latest posting by Tun’s daughter Marina Mahathir, such bossiness however is considered a sign that things are almost back to normal.

Keep going, Tun!

Meanwhile, please find the official media statement issued by Tun’s personal aide Sufi Yusoff.

MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Institut Jantung Negara, 1 October….YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad continues to make progress in his post surgical rehabilitation process.

Eight days after a second surgery for wound debridement, he is now strong enough to sit on a chair. He is eating better and doctors continue to focus on improving his nutritional status. This is to build his muscle strength before he is put through more exercise sessions.

Tun Dr Mahathir continues to be warded at the Intensive Care Unit and visitations are still limited to immediate family members.

It’s Oct 1 today, halfway through the Ramadan season and Works Minister S Samy Vellu has a new year gift in mind, 3 months prior to the big day.

This is only the beginning and rest assured that more gifts will come to your way courtesy of Kerajaan Barisan Nasional in 2008.