We kept saying that all the time, it's not Malaysia Boleh, it's Malaysia 'bodoh' as pointed out by Michael Backman who wrote While Malaysia fiddles, its opportunities are running dry .

His recent article in The Age slapped us hard in the face. It is rather embarrassing but I can't help agreeing with him that us lot tend to live in Dreamland. While there are more pressing matters of national concern looming, we are still fiddling with who owns what and how much. How silly can that be? Does it really matter that Ali gets a larger slice of the pie while Ah Chong and Muthu get a bit? When there is no pie at all, what will there be to argue about? Are we really that naive to be still stirring racial sentiments at political parties' general assemblies while our oil wells are running dry as we speak?

With Petronas literally feeding the country, we might be riding high right now. However, Malaysia's oil reserves will run out in 19 years time and we're already set to become a net oil importer by 2011 if nothing is done. Are we not worried at all? Are we adopting a 'rilek la bang, lepak la dulu' attitude? Why bother sending a Malaysian into space when the money can be put into better use, eg, research and development, education and rural development.

How about reducing crime rate? How about tackling corruption? How about stimulating the economy at the grassroots level? How about ensuring that Universiti Malaya and other Malaysian universities do not slip further down the world ranking? How about finding out why successful Malaysian overseas are not bothered to return? How about doing something to ensure the energy security of the country in the future, before our oil wells are sucked dry?

We overseas Malaysian might not be home right now, but we are very worried. Heck, we are worried sick! It is for the love of the nation that we do not want to see the nation further sliding. .

Do something, Pak Lah! You might be nice and yes, we like that, but our patience are running out. Test the rakyat's patience any further and we might snap. Delivering inspiring speeches at general assemblies is not enough. Empty promises are not enough. Remaining silent and letting your colleagues do the talking is not good at all.

Dr Mahathir has got his points and we are listening. That is what we do for a PM who contributed his entire life to the nation and brought us to where we are today. You, Pak Lah, would not want others to see your government as half-past-six, would you?

I use we because I am speaking as a Malaysian. Not as a Chinese Malaysian or anything else. I love my country as much as 26 million others do. Let us be genuinely boleh, and not 'bodoh'.