After reading malaysiakini for many months, I have come across many articles and letters telling Prime Minister Abdullah Ahamd Badawi to stop the 'wayang kulit', to sack Works Minister S Samy Vellu, to improve press freedom, to make the judiciary and the Anti-Corruption Agency independent.

But Abdullah, or Umno for that matter, will not change because they are the country's main political masters. And why is Umno political master number one? Take a wild guess.

Because many Malay, Chinese and Indian Malaysians vote for the Barisan Nasional at every general election. As such, Umno has been dominating the political system and landscape of Malaysia.

There is not enough reason for Umno to reform the current system despite the recent hoo-ha over money politics. This is because those who accuse others of money politics have also practiced it in one way or another before.

So the next question will be, how do we reform the huge Umno machinery. Pak Lah couldn't do it even if he wanted to. He is part of the system. His power is supported by the very same system that is perceived by the public as corrupted to the core.

As the saying goes, 'Do not jump off if you are riding the tiger'. If you do, the tiger will devour you alive. Pak Lah is riding the tiger and he must not jump off.

Press freedom, an independent judiciary, government transparency and a free ACA can only be realised through a political system which has a strong check and balance. Without this we can only dream of progress in national affairs.

Without a strong opposition, talk of corruption, press freedom and an independent judiciary will merely remain talk.

I am not saying that we should trust the opposition entirely, but if there is a strong check-and-balance system in Malaysia we can begin to move towards having independent institution. This in turn will help in the battle against corruption.

Do not trust an individual; trust a check-and-balance system.