The New Straits Times has reported that Umno is 'striving for a PAS-free Terengganu'. This aspiration is, of course, reminiscent of the Umno-controlled Barisan Nasional's efforts to rid the parliament, state assemblies and, if they had their way, the country, of opposition parties. Hence, the slogan Sifar Pembangkang (Zero Opposition).

I find such efforts utterly distasteful and bordering on ignorance of how a democracy actually works. Umno speaks with great pride of their 'hard work' in getting rid of the opposition as if they are rendering great service to the rakyat.

The opposite cannot be more true. While it is good for the government, for the sake of its efficiency, to have a sound majority in the parliament or state assemblies, the rakyat needs a functioning opposition as a check-and-balance mechanism. No political party, government or ruler in the history of mankind is perfect and Umno/BN is no different.

Having a weak opposition - either in terms of number or quality - is bad enough, but not having any opposition? The absence of opposition will be a great loss to the country as the parliament and state assemblies will be at the absolute mercy of the one and only party in the legislature that can then rule as they please - at a worse degree, that is, because, as it is, they are already doing that.

Harbouring the longing for an opposition-free country is equivalent to making a mockery out of democracy and elections. Announcing this tyrannical yearning makes it shameless. One suspects that this 'project' to achieve a zero-opposition environment stems more from self-interest and attempts have been made to brainwash the people that it is good for them.

The stupid part is that the project managers are not subtle enough to pull wool over the people's eyes. In fact, they are not even close. Many Umno leaders are so into themselves and imagine whatever they do to be correct all the time, they prance around naked anyway and are proud when everyone else either laughs at them or looks away in disgust.

These obtuse comedians misread this and think that the people are laughing with them or are silently agreeing with them because the words of their leaders are necessarily the gospel truth.

It also smacks of enormous arrogance for Umno/BN to speak of the opposition as if they are germs that need to be obliterated in order to produce a sterile environment. One need only open the pages of the Hansard parliamentary debate records to discover remarks which are downright racist, sexist and plain stupid.

This reflects badly on the level of mentality and intelligence of our elected representatives. And as if this is not enough, one BN parliamentarian actually defended the use of coarse language in the parliament recently on the pretext that it lends strength to a point put forth.

I suppose most of our lawmakers have not had the opportunity to see the intelligent, witty and civilised debates being held between rival politicians in Britian's House of Commons. I cringe to think that a bunch of comical, anarchical, intellectually-challenged individuals are making laws to govern us.

I hope none of these clowns try to divert my attention with their usual cheap tactic of saying that our parliament or government is much better and democratic when compared to, say, Zimbabwe or Somalia.

If Umno/BN wishes to work hard for a cause, let it be one that is beneficial to the rakyat. They can start by ridding themselves of corruption of all types. Can you imagine how much of the rakyat's money is being used to advance irrational and self-serving efforts that do not benefit the country in the least?

How many posters, flyers, buntings and booklets are to be printed to spread the message of Sifar Pembangkang ? Slogans like Sifar Pembangkang are actually advocating for the abuse of the rakyat and only serves to demonstrate the foolishness and lack of good faith of Umno/BN in governing this country.