Every elected government must work in the best interest of its people, who are the source of the government’s legitimacy. Policies created by the government must necessarily be based upon diversity, respect, human dignity, tolerance and equal opportunity. Ordinary citizens must be engaged in the developing and formulating of the society so as to foster a clear sense of belonging.

To realise the above, the government must never dominate businesses, unions and other establishments and institutions in the state but instead should welcome organic leadership. Such a government must be more transparent, responsible, accountable and respect the rights of the people to information. Only then it is possible to build a more humane society.

In the hope of wanting to create a more humane society, any conflicts with the tenets of parliamentary democracy must be removed without hesitation and reservation. And in this regard, the future and destiny of this country is in our hands and unless we engineer a change collectively, the people will remain powerless.

Therefore it is utterly necessary to make changes principally to meet changing situations. Lee Kuan Yew on November 1965 said:

“If we keep still to the old ways of leaving the affairs of the country in the hands of government and its officers with the people concerned only with their own affairs and nothing else, our country would be in a sorry state. If people are interested only in business and in getting rich, and take no interest in national affairs, they and others will not survive should our country be invaded.”

It is an undisputed theory that the government alone should not have to carry the responsibility of influencing public attitudes and opinion. To work the democratic system leadership at all levels in particular, non-political, functional or professional group leaderships should play a critical role in educating the people.

They should create a climate in which difficult problems arising from changing circumstances can be accommodated and met with new solutions. Unless we take the wider view and uphold the public interest, any democratic system cannot endure let alone flourish.

The conservative notion that only governments with a clear majority are strong and decisive is rather outdated. For instance in Britain today the government with a simple majority is working successfully under the democratic parliamentary system because they govern firmly, wisely, but at all times politely which is fundamental so that there shall be certainty and stability in the affairs of the people.

According to Lee Kuan Yew speaking to the Singapore National Union of Journalists, May 24th 1963:

“The art of a successful government in the Federation (of Malaya) and in Singapore is in part the art of balancing competing interest and not allowing the racial preponderance of any group to conscribe the economic opportunities of the others”

An elected government cannot just mind its own business and that of their family. People in political parties must make it their business to mind everybody else’s business and everybody else’s welfare.

It is therefore imperative for any government to leave coherent policies and a productive economy, and no single person should rock and/or should dare to dismantle a representative government.

Today we the people demand for a leadership that’s able to mobilise and galvanise the people. We require a leadership that possesses the ability to respond effectively to the unexpected.

We the people do not want cheap leaders which will result in a poor bunch of MPs, lots of hypocrisy, fiddling, dishonesty and corruption. We want instead leaders and governments that will win or lose on merits.

We can change the present mishaps and setbacks and could continue to strive to become a successful nation if we are ready to accept the following ingredients of success:

we the people ask for the voting age to be brought down from 21 years to 18 years;

we the people ask for all prisoners including those serving capital punishments the right to vote at elections;

every citizen should be rewarded fairly and equitably as per their contributions to the country;

all members of parliament and state assemblypersons, civil servants, government appointees and high ranking public corporation employees must be asked to declare their assets to the public, including deemed interests before, during and after office;

all laws which make the decisions of the executive un-reviewable should be reviewed;

public demonstrations should be allowed as of right, subject to prior notification;

multiculturalism should be promoted aggressively and must be seen to form a corner stone of our social policies;

the establishment and creation of better infrastructure for the public transport needs of people with disabilities;

employers should be constantly encouraged to employ those with disabilities and proper public education awareness is necessary to eradicate any misconception and prejudice against them;

our present National Education Curriculum content should be revisited and reviewed to incorporate the teachings of our federal constitution, the political system of parliamentary democracy, human rights and obligations of being a citizen;

the government must ensure, guarantee and provide all citizens best possible healthcare and not just basic healthcare services;

we ask for an immediate uplifting of the wages and welfare of lower income Malaysians and such wages must keep pace with the increasing cost of living so that they could live a decent life;

the inflow of foreign workers should be immediately halted or it should be calibrated for each industry, taking into account the suitability of Malaysians for those industries;

older workers must be protected from exploitation;

citizens who are in dire financial straits should be allowed to withdraw from their own Employees Provident Fund;

all corporations should be encouraged to exercise corporate social responsibilities to protect the environment and all commercial users should be encouraged to conserve water and energy;

Despite all odds and setbacks, we achieved multiculturalism and integration in Malaysia today. We have shown the world that Malaysia is not a Malay Malaysia, not a Chinese Malaysia nor an Indian Malaysia. But it is a multiracial nation belonging to all Malaysians and we all belong here.

It is our natural duty to create a better country for the present and future generation. Unless we are prepared to take a brave bold move, never will we see change in our living time.

The writer is an ex ISA detainee.