The citizens are still reeling in an abrupt shock with the sudden and unprecedented huge hike in the fuel price. And the paralysis seems to be more widespread as it is coming hot on the heels of the raise in rice and flour prices recently.

As such, street protests - which much as we know will only add to the pain - are bound to be the only option for many including politicians who will in all likelihood will be at the helm.

The government has in the meantime advised generously that consumers must learn to cut back and even choose wisely. Citizens meanwhile react with flabbergast not knowing how to when the monthly bills and loan repayments which form the bulk of expenditures remain the same.

Likewise, some ministers are also giving loud yet empty promises that enforcement will be very vigilant to check on discriminating traders. Citizens sneer in response for they have seen it all in the past.

Unfortunately, we may be missing some crucial fundamentals within our own yard in wanting to face the global pressures resulting from speculation and futures trading of grain supplies and the insatiable demand for rising fuel consumption which is rocketing crude oil price.

Foremost, if Malaysia could get its political agenda into focus and stop party politicking, the economic hardships would be better managed - at the least. Much time, money and energy has been wasted since the 12^th general elections with ongoing speculation, infighting, uncalled for challenges and the works.

And in cases where the 'opposition' won by a majority, everyone knows that recognition, cooperation and acceptance by the federal government is by any standards still far from becoming a reality.

Meanwhile, the fight against corruption is only getting more tricky and every turn leaves us gasping in disbelief. Today, corruption in Malaysia has seeped into every thread of our socio-political fabric stretching from the elite to the lone cop on the beat. And as such, it will take more than mere policies to wash it clean.

At the core lies our incapability to learn and critically appraise with appropriate action. We have precipitated into a society that patronises all the many unethical ways of doing things - be it politics or business or even in learning.

Our failure in the past to listen to the clarion calls of activists, philosophers, ethicists and spiritual leaders on the need to enrich the hearts and minds of citizens even before we dot-mark the map of this nation with mega-structures and apparent affluence is probably a primary reason for the deep anguish that we are facing today.

We chose to practice an aggressive libertarian philosophy and often justified multi-billion ringgit extravagance with a deontological argument. And critics were silenced or banished with shame.

Many times we stood firm by the credo of a 'managed' democracy as our new-found panacea for a unique nation that is very differently 'multiracial' from the rest of the world.

Our education system, which is also at the root of today's malaise despite all its publicised good intent, has to bear accountability for guiding citizens along a path that has only ill-prepared us in facing the new economic order of globalising commerce.

The flip side of the current fuel hike pains that will undeniably only fester into deeper wounds, is the issue of leadership and governance. It is fact that when a nation lacks visionary leadership, the citizens will be starved of inspiration.

And worse, when we throw ethical systems out of the window, the nation's resistance level to the economic ailments weakens drastically.

With almost every family being a borrower in this nation with car, education and housing loans to boot, the current and future challenges may only drag us further down the sinkhole of desperation.

In a nutshell, we have gone wrong and it is time we came back together - in double quick time. Otherwise we will certainly join the permanent ranks of similar failed economies that exist today on planet earth.

We have to ask ourselves some really painful and hurting but certainly honest questions. And the prima donna of all questions would be: Have we failed to spawn leadership that is capable of leading a young and small nation into a changing world? What is our choice?