The fact that after 47 years of independence we have had the only one and same party in the federal government is nothing to boast about. It shows that Malaysia is really not that stable politically and the country lacks a respectable parliamentary system of governance that honours the nation's constitution above all else.

With the ruling party in power since independence, it has carved out for itself all kinds of propaganda machinery and monopolised power under the executive to make it virtually impossible for any other political party to form a new government. But if that should ever happen, think for a moment of the mayhem and chaos that would be 'created'.

However, if the people truly had a voice and there was no hanky-panky or gerrymandering, another political party could form the next government and the constitution would ensure a peaceful transfer of power.

If the people were still unhappy, they could again exercise their authority to change the government. This is what a mature democracy is about. Stability and continuity is ensured because of respect for the constitution.

In light of this bleak future, it appears that there is no hope for a free and fair election and for a mature democratic system of governance. There are too many insecurities, too many personalities, to much money and too little political will.

Looking at the current scenario, change has to be from within. There needs to be a leader who is secure enough, mature enough to restore the independence of the law keepers, the judiciary and the various branches of government like the Anti-Corruption Agency.

This should be done simply because it is right to ensure that human selfishness and greed is checked from within. It might mean a short tenure as prime minister and even unpopularity among the cronies, but in the long run it will make Malaysia stronger.

Anwar Ibrahim was prepared to lose everything and has indeed lost his freedom and his children's childhood years. Here is a man of principle. Whether right or wrong, at least he has a backbone. Which is a lot more than the current lot. He is dynamic, charismatic statesman.

If he rejoins Umno, the opposition would be no more but at least we could hope for a real change from within the ruling coalition. Perhaps, there would be accountability once more, free and fair elections as well as the end of the ISA.

So even as a Chinese Malaysian and a Keadilan member, I must say that I have hopes that we can see Anwar in the corridors of power once again.

If reformasi is dead and Keadilan weak, then perhaps it is high time to let Anwar out. He has spent the last six years in confinement because some saw him as a threat. He got on the wrong side of the former prime minister and the full wrath of the establishment was brought down on him and his family.

It was not Dr Mahathir Mohamad's problem only, it was the whole of Umno's. The entire Umno party said nothing and condoned the action of their leader. Therefore, it is the whole party that put Anwar where he is and persecuted him to political oblivion.

Now that he is irrelevant, it is time to let him go.

The current PM talks about integrity and ethics. What is integrity and being ethical? Integrity, as a wise man once said, is what you do when no one is looking. Being ethical is doing the right thing when it is in your power to do so.

I assume that since our PM have launched the National Integrity Plan, he himself is a man of integrity and ethics. It is now in his power to do the right thing and to be a man of integrity.

Let's hope that come this May 10, when Anwar makes his last bid for freedom, the Malaysian courts of justice will live up to their name and do the right thing.