The reformasi spirit among Malaysians is not dead. Reformasi is not about 'regime-change' as Keadilan would prefer it to be. It is also not about creating the utopia Farish Noor seems to be yearning for in his criticism of the apparent lack of depth in the fledgling 'reformasi' movement.

In 1998, for the first time in our brief history as a modern nation, Malaysians of all races and creed spoke out against all that is not well in our society without inhibition. And more importantly, without an agenda, which was what that made it the genuine mass expression that it was.

Political scientists like Farish Noor is understandably disappointed that that brief moment when Malaysians were able to free ourselves from whatever that kept us apart, was not followed up by concerted and cohesive actions to remove the constraints permanently.

But, really, that is too much to expect. The truth is, there is no reform movement in Malaysia as yet. o­nly an awakening, the lighting up of a spirit.

It may be also true that the spontaneous arousal was hijacked by others with narrower interests, and that may have threatened to erode the mass appeal it can potentially be.

But no political party or sectarian movement can ride o­n the reformasi spirit without it being impacted by that infusion in return. That so-called 'hijacking' did not kill reformasi, it just spread its embers wider.

When young Muslim intellectuals thronged to PAS in the aftermath of Anwar Ibrahim's arrest, the party actually had to soften its dogmatism to accommodate and keep them. If it ever turn out that the accommodation was just a devious tactic, then that same boldness inspired by reformasi will ignite against that party.

That is the beauty of reformasi of the people, by the people and for the people. It should exist in and permeate all sectors as a common desire for change. It should never be owned by the self-righteous to impose o­n the people as a package of what is right.

Not by religious zealots nor by secularists like Farish whose personal distaste for the medieval colours his academic judgement. Reformasi can prevail at both ends of this continuum without o­ne end having to succumb to the other. It is a concept for change; not an ideology that forces o­ne end to be mutually exclusive of the other.

That is also why Keadilan can never masquerade as genuine reformasi. It cannot adopt it as an ideology of sorts. Unless it is serious in going back to the drawing board to redefine itself, it will remain just a political party that advocate reforms.

In its previous efforts to win at the ballot box, it has already fallen trap to the age-old plague of communal division and personal loyalties that has been the way to go in Malaysian politics. What genuine reforms can actually be produced by old formulas?

DAP ran shy of losing its communal appeal. Its reformasi is now limited to just being a loud sectarian lobby to check, but never to affect and lead change. But its voice is now being listened to carefully by the other races, in the spirit of reformasi.

All these do not augur well for the fat old men and salivating wanna-be's of the corrupt Barisan Nasional. Even though they can forcibly prolong the status quo for a few more terms, they ignore reformasi at their own peril.

Abdullah Badawi can very well hang o­n as prime minister after Dr Mahathir, by dishing out the spoils of his office to various 'warlords'. But the pie is much smaller now, after being squandered by those before him.

Soon enough, out of necessity, there may be reformasi in Umno too, except that by that time the impetus for change would have been led by others outside the party. Umno will diminish accordingly, or will reform appropriately. Looking at the present crop of Umno Youth leaders, it will be the former rather than the latter.

For reformasi to be an effective socio-political movement, it needs the leadership of genuine reformers. Are there many from amongst us?

Not just reform-minded thinkers. The last time a political scientist plunged into active politics, he found himself out of his depths and had to crawl out sheepishly blaming politics and politicians!

Not big names from old politics - saw how fast they ran when the ship began to keel? Not anarchists nor romantics - for them its more the journey than the destination.

Then there is always Anwar Ibrahim. He was from that pack of rats. But he has disavowed them and what they stand for. This is o­ne man who has suffered from the injustices of the present decadence more than any of us. He has felt what we can o­nly fear.

Reformasi is still alive, aging to be wiser, waiting for the moment for it to be re-ignited by the man who was angry enough to start it all. How much longer he is kept locked up depends o­n how much we deserve having him out.

It will never happen out of charity.