In my observation, it is the ruling Barisan Nasional, not the opposition, that is really bankrupt of new issues to face in the coming general elections. Everyone (such as Samy Vellu and Rafidah Aziz) in BN is just hiding behind the feel-good image of Abdullah to get re-elected. But let me pose a few questions to Abdullah's supporters:

First, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been part and parcel of the corrupt system for almost 30 years as a senior leader. What had he done to correct or reform the system before he became the chief in November last year? Wasn't he opportunistic by keeping quiet for so many years within a corrupt system?

What did he do positively to restrain his predecessor, Dr Mahathir Mahathir from engaging in the mega-project building orgy and all the Muslim-, Chinese-, European- and Jew-bashing in the last 22 years? If he did something fundamentally different from Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his corrupt and oppressive cronies, why has Abdullah been tolerated by the system?

Second, even if Abdullah is personally incorruptible, does it mean that all his fellow candidates in Umno, MCA, MIC, Gerakan, SUPP and other BN parties are equally clean? If not, why should we voters support all BN candidates just because Abdullah is supposedly 'clean'?

In fact, a case can be argued that by voting in a strong opposition to the parliament and state assemblies, we can help Abdullah more. There would be more brave Malaysians to expose cases of corruption, cronyism and nepotism so that Abdullah could take actions to address them. Don't expect ruling politicians sharing similar interests to expose each others' corruption, cronyism and nepotism.

Third, is Abdullah himself really free from nepotism and cronyism? The recent scandal involving his son, Kamaluddin Abdullah, as the owner of Scomi is a case in point. The company was accused by the US and UK of producing and selling centrifuge parts to the Libyan rogue regime. Where does the 36-year-old son of Abdullah obtain so much monetary resources to be involved in a big business like Scomi? Why did the government have to mobilise public resources and institutions like the police, mass media and the Foreign Ministry to defend the private company owned by Kamaluddin?

I hope Malaysians are critical and honest enough to publicly debate these issues and not be duped by Abdullah's spin doctors, one of whom is his own son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin. We must not let Abdullah Ahmad Badawi become another Mahathir after the coming general elections.