I refer to the Malaysiakini report The rising of the sons, daughter and in-law .

Unlike past general elections, the upcoming polls will be the maiden battleground for offspring of retired political giants making their way in the political fields once dominated by their fathers.

Presently, we have two famous sons of ex-premiers holding important posts in their parties and the government. And if Mukriz Mahathir runs for public office, he will continue his father Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s legacy in polics.

Political dynasties are the norm in Third World countries, where sons replace their fathers once they step out of office. In Malaysia’s case, the sons have had to wait some time before being able to claim the top political posts vacated by their illustrious fathers. But, then again, in a twist of events, we have the famous son-in-law of our present premier, who is rumored to make his debut in this coming polls. Looks like its ‘all in the family,’ as far as our political scenario is concerned.

Let us not forget that nepotism also occurs in BN-component parties, where the sons of the former MCA and Gerakan presidents are rumored to be candidates.

We must understand that ours is still a feudal society, where royal families and people of noble heritage run the show, while common people with no family connections and famous last names find it difficult to reach the top.

Even the opposition parties, like the DAP, have their famous father and son teams. Lim Kit Siang and son and Karpal Singh and his sons will join in the fray to run for office in the coming polls. Although Anwar Ibrahim cannot run for office, it is thought that his wife and daughter will still run for office under the PKR banner.

I suppose that for the offspring of political leaders, politics is in their blood and is the career choice for which they have the most passion.

Whether having sons and daughters follow in their fathers' footsteps is good for the country is debatable. In other countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines, sons and daughters have failed to live to their famous fathers’ and mothers’ legacies. Their tenures in office have been marred with corruption and abuses of power. Only in Singapore do we find a First World nation where the son - the current premier - has managed to bring the country to new heights and prosperity after replacing his legendary father.

Malaysia has suffered much because of poor leadership. To have an upright and honest leader, who is also a visionary, is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Our founding fathers, who inherited good governance systems from colonial masters, must be turning in their graves to see the maladies that occur in this country today.

But rest assured folks, when the time comes, the sons or sons-in-law of former or present premiers will stake their claim on the top political or governmental posts because they think it is their birth right. In their minds, other less known political personalities will have to play second fiddle to them.

A government by the people and for the people will never occur here as long as the public perception is that only sons of former political giants can run this country, while other more capable people are sidelined because their last names don’t count.