Is it a wonder that the current lack of common destiny that the people of our country face is a result of failed government policies? Anwar Ibrahim has hit the nail on its head when he laments that our country is no longer competitive in the region and the flow of investment is slowing down.

With the economy shriveling and inflation high, is it not also a wonder that Umno has to play the racial card to justify the mad scramble for what is left of the economic pie? Remember it was not too long ago that the hotheads at this year's Umno assembly were extolling the virtues of being glocal. What has happened since then?

Instead of embracing the challenges of being a global player and making the pie bigger, Umno has instead turned inwards, lost in a self-induced rage with grand delusions of supremacy. Corruption has pushed up the price of doing business and all our dear leader can do is wish that there was more debate about it.

What evidence does the ACA need when they can afford to build palaces on their purported income. Are we to pay more for our subsidised fuel so that someone can get paid US100 million to broker a submarine sale? Perhaps it's for the projects to be given to Class F contractors?

Is it also a wonder that government servants are asking for a 40 percent pay rise? When the costs of living are spiraling up, it seems there is a price to be paid for implementing government policy and being loyal.

Running a country is not easy, but one expects more from people who claim to know how to do it. Dr Mahathir Mohamad managed it through sheer force of personality and intellect plus an intuitive grasp of the Malaysian psyche.

Without such tools at his disposal Pak Lah is drifting, and I think it is time for us to change ships at the next port of call.