Reading the exchange of ideas on the pre-Ninth Malaysia Plan here, I get the feeling that many Malaysians want us to edge away from the present state of high-tech mediocrity. Recent issues radiate similar vibes, abundantly showing how showcase infrastructure and ambitious programmess are co-existing with a host of under-achievements.

Among other things, the decline in education standards, deficient sporting achievements and poor quality of the civil service. But before we proceed to plan the next five years, I believe we should consider if a more fundamental change is necessary.

Although the Malaysia Plan can go to significant lengths in fostering development and executing programmes, it continues to reflect a paternalistic government and subservient society that stifles the creative potential that we have increasingly depend on to continue developing.

Terrible habits need to change. The income distribution problem provides an illustration. It's not as though this issue is new; we should be more appalled at our ignorance than stunned by the revelation by malaysiakini .

The rich-poor gap grew from 1990 until 1997 when the financial crisis interrupted the forward march of the ultra-rich and reduced inequality. But the order of things resumed from 1999 till present, until income distribution here is now the region's most uneven.

This outcome is surprising, because the 8th Malaysia Plan refocused development programmes on poverty reduction and indicated that income inequality would be a priority. But we're now back to square one.

The 8thMalaysia Plan laid out many smooth ideals, but stopped short of the most important element commitment to changing the way government operates and interacts with people. If developing a people who can contribute creatively to our economic and social betterment is a priority, why have we not considered how government should change to keep in line with these developments?

It is ironic that leaders expect so much change of people but so little of themselves. Malaysia's leaders still desire to govern with a master-servant mindset. This mindset was vividly shown by Hishamuddin Hussein, our education minister, who once suggested, apparently in all seriousness, that physical education could be made an examination subject to stem the decline in sports.

'In order to show we are serious' how often have we heard that uttered to parade a leader's heart, when it actually reveals his rashness and self-serving mentality? Education needs more than better programmes and computer facilities; schools need better teachers. And to attract better teachers, they need to be paid more sufficiently. This involves increasing the operating budget for teachers' salaries not one-off or short-term development expenditures.

Will discussion on the 9th Malaysia Plan address the vital re-balancing between development and operating expenditures such as this? (One difference, of course, is that 'development' projects offer nice contracts)

As for curt reception and slow service in government departments (ah, that enduring problem) there is now a new proposal that department heads dial up their offices pretending to be a member of the public to catch staff slacking on the job.

But in this Information Technology age, why not install computers to compile more complete information (such as the average waiting period to get service). But eventually, staff need incentives as well.

Perhaps solutions lie in setting out clear targets (such as reducing the average waiting period) and re-examining civil service appraisals (the PTK) and reconsidering the ongoing fetish for 'motivational courses'. And surely there must be more relevant and effective scheme of employee incentives worth considering.

A bit of realistic perspective perhaps should be injected into our deliberations on the 9th Malaysia Plan. Recent five-year plans have demonstrated, more than anything, that we know how to say the right things. The issue is not the gulf between rhetoric and practice - which can never be fully bridged - but about the tendency to say all the right things minus the most important thing.

We maintain focus on equity distribution targets without due attention to the growing inequality between the rich and poor. Our leaders show their toughness in taking abrupt and sometimes stern action, but this only reinforces their position and hardly inspires those below them.

Barisan Nasional leaders have articulated some sensible thoughts about what's important especially in human capital development but refuse to loosen the grip on a paternalistic government.