Time to ACT!

Now that the long festive season is over, I will get down to some serious business!

There are two positive things that we, Malaysians, are enjoying under the Prime Ministership of Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi. Firstly, we are relieved of the frenetic pace at which we moved under his very accomplished predecessor, Tun Dr Mathathir Mohamad, who, goal-driven, drove everyone to move ahead at a galloping speed! I think, maybe, we had had enough of that and was quite glad for Abdullah's laid-back pace.

Secondly, we are seeing -- perhaps, for the first time here in Malaysia -- that with or without leadership, the country will run by itself. Now, I don't know whether that is a sign of leadership or the lack of it. But, one thing is certain: Thanks to the previous leadership who laid the foundation for a stable government, the country has developed to a point that it is no longer dependent on one leader to keep it going.

I think that is a very good sign. There will be no more room for megalomanical leaders. But, unfortunately, for the same reason, a puppet could be running the country and nobody will know the difference. And, that is why, I believe, the March 8 general elections next weekend must be a turning point in our history.

If the government can run by itself, then, that is every reason why the citizen must now be more vigilant because otherwise he or she can be easily duped by a leadership, skilled in the art of corporate public relations, who may spin webs of wool over your eyes and blind you to seeing that his or her leadership really doesn't have much to show.

Since the last general elections, what has Malaysia to show? Plans on paper unveiled with blazing media fanfare. Yet, ordinary people like me still have to dig deep into our pockets to pay our bills, send our children to school and find alternatives all the time to survive because Plan A is always squeezed out by national policies of affirmative action.

We are no longer sure if the future holds prospects that will be better. Or, are things going to get worse and we will have to look for greener options beyond our borders?

If we want change for the better, then it is time to act. I think now is the time for the people to show that we want leaders to serve our needs so that we actually see the benefits in our hands. If they don't, now is the time to throw them out of office! The nation will still run and we will get a better crop of public servants!

Happy voting!