I am sorry, but unlike some of your letter writers, I'm not getting euphoric about Pak Lah's role in revealing the approved permit (APs) holders.

Instead, this dispute between Proton advisor Dr Mahathir Mohamad and International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz only demonstrates the survival of feudal-style warlord-ism in a modern, 21st century setting.

Proton's Tengku Mahaleel (when he had a job) was quoted by a local paper for hinted criticism of the role of Korean car imports in undermining Proton and yes, Proton was hurting.

At the same time, some of the APs were unintentionally doing the buying public a favour by providing competition to Proton and creating affordable alternatives for us (but I'm not putting any AP king on a pedestal).

Recently, the simmering issue came to a head and Mahathir stepped into the ring on Mahaleel's side and confronted Rafidah openly and swords drawn, warlord to warlord, demanded that Rafidah reveals the identities of the AP holders.

Rafidah balks and refuses, so the cabinet brings pressure on Rafidah who now reveals all. Now, I'm not quite sure what is next in this drama but if the AP holders can't give us more affordable cars, then we will under more pressure to buy Proton or Perodua.

So while the warlords fight, we the rakyat stand to suffer and thus I'm not cheering for Pak Lah or anyone else for that matter. I'll cheer when an alternative government is in power and conducts an inquisition for the warlords and all the corrupt politicians, civil service, etc.

Meanwhile, why the term 'approved permits' which is a duplication of words? They then could also have chosen 'permitted permits' or 'approved approvals'.

An approval is a permit, so why not just call it a permit?