It seems that this year in 2004, Malaysia was given the rare opportunity to celebrate 'Merdeka' twice, once on Aug 31 for our National Day, and again two days after that on Sept 2 for the independence of Malaysia's judiciary and justice system.

The thought of the ex-deputy prime minister being freed after being sentenced to a 15-year long jail sentence would not have crossed the minds of many Malaysians, yet it has came true. Once again, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has struck the right chord with the Malaysian people, just as how he had in the recent general election.

More so after a sense of disappointment and scepticism among the people regarding the PM's somewhat slow action and initiative in making the changes and reform which he had promised during the election.

Now it seems clearer than ever before to the people that Pak Lah does intend to keep his words and promises, and with such high qualities of honesty and integrity we can expect even greater things from Pak Lah in the near and distant future.

The date Sept 2, 2004 can be regarded by many as a day of victories - a personal victory for Anwar Ibrahim, a political victory for Pak Lah and also a moral victory for the Malaysian judicial system.

The judicial system is now able to claim back its lost honour and dignity over its misconduct and misdirection in the the past. For the Malaysian people as a whole, it is also their victory in many ways since the law has now been given a new life and restored back to its proper and rightful place in the country.

With the law now back in place, the people can now expect greater political and social freedom within our Malaysian society.

Just as everybody by now would have realised, the release of Anwar Ibrahim as a free man, gives rise to a most sudden and unexpected turn of events within our local Malaysian politics.

Firstly, would be the role to be played by the ex-deputy prime minister in the current and future political scenario of Malaysia. With Keadilan winning only one seat in the last general election, there have been talks of a possible reunification of Keadilan with Umno, yet with Anwar Ibrahim now thrown back into the equation; things might not go the way as it was earlier planned.

Yet whatever plans Anwar might have for the future; let us hope that he will play an important and decisive role in the betterment and improvement of our Malaysian political and social situations, such as the fight against corruption and graft.

Then comes the question of Pak Lah's way and style in governing the country. By not interfering or influencing in the decision-making process of the Federal Court, it only goes to show that Pak Lah wishes to break away from the former premier's methods of administering and managing the affairs of the country.

Pak Lah has certainly lived up to the high expectations put upon him by the people after his resounding victory in the last general election where he had garnered both the respect and admiration of the people for him.

Truly a man of his words, Pak Lah has fulfilled his promises made to the people one by one, which only proves that he always has the interest and welfare of the people close at heart. The freeing of Anwar Ibrahim will definitely be a historical landmark in the course of Pak Lah's reign of Malaysia besides serving as a testament towards the development of a first world mentality which he has strongly advocated.

With the unexpected freeing of Anwar, it would almost be certain that further new surprises and revelations await us in the future. This sudden turn of events has also caused our domestic politics to be thrown out of balance and would most likely lead to a stirring of many speculations and predictions regarding Malaysia's current as well as its future political prospects.

Whatever happens, we can only hope and pray that Anwar's release will have a positive effect that will lead to brighter and better future for Malaysia.

My heartiest regards and congratulations to Anwar Ibrahim for finally making it through his painful and heartbreaking ordeal. To Pak Lah, you are certainly a great man for by your exemplary leadership and conduct; you have embodied within yourself and imbued among the people the true and authentic meaning of the spirit of 'Merdeka'.