At last I was thrilled when I read an article on Kota Bahru member of parliament Zaid Ibrahim and the 'high standards' he has set for himself and fellow Umno MPs.

If what I read was right, I must salute Zaid for he brings in some kind of fresh air into the political landscape of Umno. It is about time that politicians begin to articulate and lead instead of the usual pontificating to the masses. The message from Zaid is far more refreshing than the messages we got the likes of Zam, Shahidan, Adnan, Roslan and others.

I was hoping that Zaid Ibrahim will set up a trend in upholding the supremacy of the rule of law and the constitution, promoting meritocracy, ensuring a strong tripartite form of governance and not least, defining separation of religion and state.

It is about time that someone from within Umno comes out and champions causes for the good of the country instead of for the narrow interests of the party. Ideally, I would like to see the practice of a free and true democracy not only within Umno itself but in the country as a whole.

It is my impression and mine alone that Umno is slowly regressing from being a free, truly democratic, bottom-up movement during Tunku and Razak's eras to a state of 'father knows best' in the eras of Mahathir and Abdullah.

We need politicians like Zaid to champion the supremacy of people's representatives (read: parliament) above all else.

Knowing what I know now, I have a sense of trepidation and doubtfulness. How far can people like Zaid go in his quest, especially in the present-day sycophantic, self-centred culture and environment that permeates Umno?

Zaid reminds me of one Rais Yatim who brilliantly articulated the yearnings of the masses but was soon drowned down by Umno's own cultural milieu that never seems to reward meritocracy.

What comes to mind are a few issues:

When Zaid stated that he was trying to restore confidence in the judiciary, I must point out that it was his former party boss that was instrumental in destroying it in the first place. I wonder where was Zaid when all the demolition was done, brick by brick, as it were. Umno was lulled into submissive obedience to a modern-day caliph and there was not single note of disapproval from the sycophantic party followers - thus we ended up having the judiciary we have today.

The country's education policies and their implementation were largely the result of what Umno had created. It was Umno that kept on tinkering with it ( tikus membaiki labu ?). While the politicians became rich and could afford overseas (read: English) education for their children, the masses ended having their sons and daughters graduating from universities with no employable skills and knowledge. I am hard-pressed to find Umno big shots whose children are educated locally.

Before Umno members go marching in to protest the treatment of Iraqi prisoners in front of US and British embassies, don't forget how Umno remained silent when the picture of Anwar Ibrahim with a black eye came out. Yes. 'He was safe!' proclaimed the nation's top police officer and had no less than the prime minister of the day himself to claim with audacity that it was self-inflicted! George Bush and Tony Blair came out and acknowledged the shameful incidents and have apologised. What has Umno done to those they have wronged?

Umno's silence when government's coffers were being emptied but the same was denied to their fellow citizens who are known non-Umno members. For example, fertiliser subsidies, etc.

Umno's silence when the government denied others avenue to express themselves. Look at how malaysiakini and Harakah were treated. Umno was equally silent when agents of the government such as the police force, and various commissions, were obviously partial to Umno to the detriment of the ordinary rakyat and the nation.

Inasmuch as we were successful in our strive to have basic infrastructure of first world quality, we were doing ourselves a great and huge disservice in having the current cultural milieu of top-down, 'father knows best' and continued dumbing down of the masses.

It is my opinion that for Umno to continue to have the moral authority to lead the country, it must accept and acknowledge the misdeeds that have occurred under its watch. Perhaps, Zaid can lead Umno's atonement and for the good of us all revamp the selfish and damaging mind-sets that permeate within Umno today.