Chang Lih Kang's article on how Malaysia has failed its youth is a stark reality of the state of democracy in Malaysia. Having pro-establishment student councils in all universities is not the issue.

The issue with these students is winning at all cost. These student leaders will one day, no doubt be political or corporate leaders depending on their drives. However what these students have learnt is not character and integrity but bullying and arrogance so as to win.

This is democracy a la Barisan Nasional. We have seen this in every national elections over the last 25 years.

Newspapers, radio and television are severely biased towards the incumbent government. The opposition has no opportunity nor voice to make themselves heard. Even within BN party elections, you hear of the same strong arm tactics as used in the university student council elections. The manuals are the same, the style and methods the same.

For Higher Education Minister Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh to say that the victory indicates that most students are grateful to the government for subsidising their fees, shows that the ruling coalition is behind their win.

The method is bribery. We pay the fees, we expect something in return. No wonder our dear prime minister has such a difficult time in cleaning up the nation of corruption and graft. With the continued training of our younger generation in this way, the National Integrity Plan will simply be a dream and a mirage.