I refer to the letter Dr Mahathir, please bring back our dignity by Rose.

This is like saying Dr Mahathir, please take my freedom away and instruct us what to do as we do not have any wisdom and have no willingness to learn and grow. In this analogy, people have to realise that we cannot ask for employment but complain about the demands and commitment to work for the boss. It was a choice.

I for one, prefer the current freedom of speech with responsibility and understanding the chaos from this sudden freedom instead of not ever being heard, ignored by my own MP and living in fear of an executive which is ever ready to use the ISA.

I prefer that MPs now can voice their opinions and be heard and that decisions pertaining to the country are no longer made unilaterally by one man alone. I prefer that we now focus on correcting our values, to report corruption publicly, to stop thinking that corruption cannot be avoided.

I prefer that we can now try to undo the positioning of the prime minister as the supreme ruler of Malaysia above the sultans, above Parliament, above the judiciary and above the constitution.

Of course, I admire Mahathir's intelligence and determination in creating visible icons that we can be proud of in Malaysia. I am amused that his sarcasm charms most Malaysians. I am not saying that we now have a better prime minister, but I know the current one is ruled by sincere values and is people-centric.

Unfortunately, he is challenged by people who want to use him and perhaps fears if some hard decisions may cause retaliation.

Which is better? I prefer moving forward. Change has been due for too long now. Now we can improve in other ways and return democracy and the written constitution as our pillars. It may take a while before it is completed, but pursue it we must.