I must be suffering from human rights fatigue not to be dismayed by Prof Hamdan Adnan's musings that he and two other commissioners would be axed at the end of their two-year term next month.

If this speculation proves true, what does it say for the other commissioners who are blessed by the government to remain in office? What can the public surmise from this?

One: the silence and inaction on crucial human rights matters means that the average salary of RM5,000 per month per commissioner is secured for yet another term. This may seem harsh and unfair if it is not true, but unfortunately this is the impression that the public gets.

Two: if one is allowed in the commission, reach for the sky in the limited two-year tenure. At least if you go, you go with honour and dignity that you have done right by the people.

Three: this is more of a proposal really, but perhaps the axed commissioners, especially Anuar Zainal Abidin could set up an independent commission on independence of the judiciary.

I think most of us are certain that we need such a commission. There are enough like-minded retired judges in the region who might be happy to develop an idea like this.

We have several judges in retirement (and one who has chosen to resign) who are unhappy with the state of the judiciary but had their hands tied. There are so many ways of doing so many things still, regardless of state patronage.