As the days go by, more people are seeing the effects of the Hindraf demonstration. Despite the wrongful detention of their leaders under the ISA, the government is beginning to pay attention to what they had conveniently taken for granted. To what extent the rectifications will hold, only time will tell.

Intelligence should prevail over paranoia. Any peaceful demonstration will not create chaos unless thugs and agitators are planted by manipulators to incite chaos. With the help of the police to ensure that the freedom to demonstrate is alive, the arrest of trouble-makers in the crowd will definitely be a justifiable act. But do the people have the avenue to express their feelings even if it is a peaceful gathering or demonstration?

The 2004 landslide victory for the Barisan Nasional was timely for the Mr Clean Prime Minister to take office. The people then gave their support to the Barisan Nasional hoping for a change because the majority of the people felt that the former prime minister had held on far too long.

But the present PM now does not go down well with the majority of the people and they want a change too. There is nothing wrong with this and the choice of the people must be respected. The paradigm shift in public’s confidence in the PM is inevitable judging from his performance in his first term.

People believed that the present PM has his own vision to propel the country to greater heights but the undelivered promises have become the main reason for the decline in support for his administration. Corruption has become rampant and the people have to bear with the dreaded higher cost of living. This is not what Malaysians want.

To win or lose in an election is part and parcel of the political game. But when the Election Commission fails to look into electoral discrepancies, then the oppositions has the right to demand for corrective action. Give it to them and compete at a level-playing field to shut everyone up for good, otherwise it is obvious that the Election Commission has a hidden agenda.

It is true that the government will not be frightened by those who are out to create trouble because the ISA is at their disposal, which is a sign of fear within. When the government breaks their promises, it is the people’s legitimate right to make their own decisions.