I refer to the letter by Dulu Umno headlined Democracy dead in Umno and wish to add that perhaps Umno should at least qualify what they mean by democracy otherwise they either do not understand the meaning of the word or they are hypocrites.

Looking at my old Oxford dictionary, one of the definitions is: 'Form of government in which sovereign power resides in people as a whole, and is exercised either directly by them or by their elected representatives'.

The essence of democracy is basically election by the people for power to be vested in those who received the most votes. However, Umno's unique system (so well described by Dr Mavis Puthucheary ), with extra rules that actually prevent challenges to its top positions, make a mockery of the word democracy.

On the one hand, we are told there should be no challenges to Umno's president and deputy president positions to prevent a split in the party. On the other hand, we have a young son-in-law of the president with a declared aim for the deputy youth chief's post, causing four senior aspirants to make way in order to save their future in the party. Why the double standards?

For the sake of democracy in Umno, and for our country in general, there should be no restrictions such as a minimum number of nominations required. And no pressure should be exerted to prevent challenges to all the positions in the party.

For too long, we have been under an uneasy truce in terms of political party positions in which negotiations take precedence and every perceived problem seems to be swept under the carpet.

The fear of candidates digging up opponents' 'skeletons in the closet' has resulted in pacts done behind closed doors, the details of which the public will never know.

Let there be more freedom for anyone to stand for Umno elections, let there be more transparency and no unfair advantages, and let the best man wins.

As the saying goes,'Real gold is not afraid of fire'.