This once quite submissive and fearing nation of citizens have, within a span of 14 days, demonstrated an unheard version of "Malaysia Boleh." Unlike other countries, both in the West and the East, where public demonstrations are wrought with burnings, violent vandalism and even bombings, Malaysians have shown the world a new chapter of 21st century passive resistance cum active intolerance.

But those in power, those who continue to operate from the tower of "We were elected to govern" will only make counterclaims. Those in and beside the driver's seat of the country or those traveling as passengers with the ruling parties will brand the two recent, peaceful yet defiant rallies by the public as "anti-government", "seditious" or "opposition-ignited."

Further, the pre- and post-rally periods have shown a volley of hurts, accusations and salvos hurled between members of the ruling and opposition parties. Unfortunately, we are hardly witnessing any politician who is able to smell, seize and build on the opportunities that arises from every crisis.

To begin with, one needs to know that issues that remain ignored over time will precipitate into a crisis. Any amount of threats, warnings or invoking of laws will not hold once the floodgates are opened. The wise will be quick to establish whether the two recent rallies are issues ignored or a classic crisis in the making. Only an impartial heart ruled by an objective mind can arrive at a judiciously-correct conclusion.

Hence, the wise politicians will ensure that they come to terms with the underlying issues that precipitated a crisis. If politicians and leaders will pause to reflect from several paradigms, it will pay dividends. Threatening each other in the august house of parliament, shouting matches, challenges to a fight either outside parliament or in an election, using force to quell peaceful assemblies, politicians taking over the jobs of trained journalists - all these antics are counterproductive if we are to build on opportunities that arise from a crisis.

We need to appreciate the fact that the growth of the new communication media is unprecedented. Using the age old panacea of media-muzzling, threats of arrests or "police power" cannot overcome the momentum of the new media technologies. Only honest, humble and constructive promises and deeds can bridge the gaps punctuated by crises.

In a nutshell, crises happen because issues have remained ignored over periods of time. Whether the issues are right, justified or real is immaterial. Crises can be devastating if there is no affirmative will to act. Only the wise will be capable of seizing opportunities that accompany crises.

The foolish will rush to deny that there is any crisis. The arrogant will dismiss the issues as being of zero consequence. The haughty will continue to harbour in the limelight of past glories. The incapable coward will attempt to take shelter behind scapegoats. All these lessons are readily available from the histories of the Greece, Roman and Egyptian civilisations.

In a crisis, facts do not matter at all, unfortunately. The defining difference is in managing the perceptions. To be convinced that crises offer opportunities is the first step which the leadership and all capable leaders must be quick to recognise, seize and make the necessary redresses to rein the perceptions.

In essence, this is not the season to sing sweet nothings nor to adamantly remain defiant. It certainly is not the season to sweep things under the carpet nor bury the head in the sand. It is the season to build on the opportunities.