VK Chin's Jan 19 article in his 'Comment' column in The Star on the issue of the anti-graft drive needing support, is akin to a race horse that doesn't react to the whip.

As we go through our daily activities, corruption and graft is rampant to say the least. Some are blatant, while some are more subtle in their pursuit of ill-gotten gains. The present drive is spearheaded by no other than our Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

His appointment, while first seen as a breath of fresh air, is now more subdued since the ascendency of Najib Abdul Razak as his deputy. As expected, the mainstream press lauded the decision while many others not blinkered by the charade were apprehensive.

My own opinion is that Najib would be more a liability than an asset to the PM. On one hand, he has fighting words to sound out the cry against graft, while on the other, he appoints Najib to his current post, a character whose political fortune originates from all the ills that plague the party and our country.

I view with great interest how Dr Mahathir Mohamad used to stay away from the topic of 'money politics' in his speeches, prior to leaving the PM job. Even his last days in power left me in no doubt as to who was his preferred choice to helm the DPM position and ultimately the top post.

Najib's ascension solidifies Dr Mahathir's position as an elder statesman absolved from the pressure from any quarter on the decisions taken during his administration. With pawns in place, Mahathir is not about to face many sleepless nights contemplating corrupt practices or any shady dealings that might have taken place - albeit an itch remains with the ongoing 'persecution' of Anwar.

The battle against graft seems to me another government initiative to win the hearts of us lay people. While the premier is deemed clean, the same can't be said of the people that surround him. In one of his last pieces prior to being given the boot, former NST group editor-in-chief Abdullah Ahmad famously reiterated that the premier has 'no house', unlike some of the characters that are serving below him.

Compared to say most of the current menteri besar, Pak Lah truly has no house. I venture further to say that even Khir Toyo has more money stashed away underneath the bed in some obscure house.

This fight against graft would lead nowhere conclusively, as the main protagonists are our own politicians and dignitaries. Our PM has not produced the big fish that the public clamours for. It is business as usual at the Anti-Corruption Agency - remaining toothless and powerless against the masters that appoint them.

Perhaps with more enlightened eyes and minds, our vote in the next general election would count for something. Problem is getting bigoted views changed and those blinkered from the truth to see the real deal.

Readers of this website are indeed fortunate to be able to chance upon many things that are not published in the mainstream press. The internet is still not accessible to many a lay person.

While the initial Employees' Provident Fund campaign to produce a nation that is PC literate through its 'one home one PC' policy was a big step in the right direction, our ex-PM put paid to that initiative apparently because there were claims of false withdrawals by contributors!

With a bat of the eye, the 'one home one PC' initiative was relegated to obscurity and nobody to question the false premise that put paid the initiative. This I find hard to swallow as it denies the average Malaysian the foothold towards greater usage of the internet.

I'm certain many parents give their utmost priority to educating their children and not many would have abused or shunned the EPF drive. Even if there were abuses, the amount is pittance compared to other schemes to defraud EPF, and other public funds. Let us not forget the Tabung Haji issue .

It has been months since the old man departed from the seat of power but his presence is still felt. The drive against graft actually poses a threat towards Dr Mahathir. Hence I conclude that current initiatives would go nowhere as the invisible hand is still capable of undoing the good work done.

Najib's ascension is one prime example. But do take heart that it is your votes that determines where our nation is headed. In truth or in fallacy, our vote is one small step towards getting rid of our mismanaged past.