With the Umno elections being held today, we are hearing the same old rhetoric about championing Malay cause and the Malay struggle. But how else can candidates do well in a race-based party if not by looking after their own interests?

If we are to be really developed by year 2020, we should aim towards eradication of all race-based parties. Well, Umno can remain the 'tai ko' in BN or even better still, why not amalgamate all 14 component parties under the Barisan Nasional into a United Malaysian National Organisation (Umno)?

Already, someone has named Anwar as a traitor for going against Umno. In the same vein, all Chinese members of DAP, for example, would be considered as traitors by the MCA. When will we ever get out of this racially-compartmentalised mentality?

History has shown that Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sacked from Umno yet came back to lead the party for over 20 years. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah managed to challenge him once but lost narrowly but has since been back in Umno, isolated and without a strong power base.

Anwar, I am sure would have learnt a lesson from Razaleigh's situation. He should try to work towards a strong credible opposition to offer the public a choice of a different government. His stature as a past deputy prime minister is a sufficient credential to lead the other parties in the opposition.

A strong opposition should be good for the country as it will keep the ruling party on its toes, ensuring good governance, transparency, justice and democracy.

What we have had all these years are the politically well-connected looking after their own interests with impunity. Stupid statements made by ministers are accepted by well-educated colleagues or party leaders and members without adverse comments because of party discipline.

That the ruling parties could continue for so long was thanks to apathy of the majority lulled into complacency by the a controlled mainstream media. Even with the advent of the Internet, the penetration is only minimal. Ask some retired school teachers - most of them are not IT savvy, let alone politically inclined.

The leadership of Umno, being the anchor party, is decided by some 2,500 delegates. Instead of a 'bottom up' election of leaders, as in a true democracy, it is decided by 'top down' selection. For it is definitely easier to handle 2,500 delegates than millions of ordinary members.