I think it is time for Chief Justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah to hang up his wigs (oops, boots) and ride gracefully into the sunset before he drags his name deeper into the mud.

It would seem to me that in the latest Federal Court ruling on the reformasi 5, he has finally shown his real self — albeit cleverly disguised and camouflaged.

The modus operandi was to make a grand entrance, make gratuitous sounds on the importance of the judiciary's independence, make some disparaging remarks on the former chief justice and his methods thereby implying that they would not be repeated under his rule and promise sweeping changes for the better.

He made some fair judgement in cases not involving the government, threw in a decision or two not to the government's favour but which have no severe impact on the political landscape of the country. However, when it comes to the crunch, he dished out a judgment that left all the legal buffs baffled.

Well, as the saying goes, you can't fool all the people all of the time.