Here is the challenge: how many newspapers will publish this letter? Therein lies the answer to the question - is democracy under deep freeze in Malaysia?

Looking at the several years of political developments subsequent to the nation's last general elections, one cannot help but wonder when democracy will ever thaw and glow in the sunshine of equitable political opportunities.

It appears that the public in Malaysia cannot express their political inclinations and displeasure over the administration of power by way of mass assemblies in this age of reckoning. And the reason dished out is always the same rhetoric - ‘national security can be threatened’.

One then wonders whether Malaysians are all savage club-wielding maniacs just out from the woods?

Scan across the globe. And look nearer to our borders. How come governments there seem to provide the right security allowing their citizens to vent their thoughts without problems? Are we saying that Malaysia is truly uniquely different from all other countries? If so, then presto, we must be a world heritage of sorts!

It is time that we ended all this tactile and subversive political games to ensure that only one party wins at all costs and remains in power.

It is also high time that we stopped stooping so low so as to use allegations of murder and sex scandal sagas to strip legitimate parties and individuals of their people-power.

It is also time to stop all the unending and costly battles within the legal corridors to de-throne winners.

And it is time that we stopped resorting to party-hoping just to ensure one’s party regains control over the masses.

The glow on Malaysia has long being fading in the international community. And let us not deny ourselves this truth. Unless and until democracy is put out to thaw from its forced deepfreeze, we have everything to lose in this age of a ‘networked society’ (Manuel Castells).