There was a time when public fields saw political rallies during elections even as a communist insurgency raged.

That was when local government polls were taken for granted. Smug and superior, we laughed at the endemic corruption in neighbouring countries.

We were a third-world country then boasting only one university - the University Malaya which enjoyed autonomy. Politicians of all stripes, among others, were invited to debate issues of the day to be applauded or booed.