Malaysia is a blessed country - at least for the 20% of the population who qualify to bask in the elitist list of wealthy people.

These rich and powerful people have enjoyed from the toil of the hard-working population. Now that the nation's working class is facing some serious credit squeeze brought about by rising inflation, perhaps the rich, powerful and elite should step forward and do some national service.

No, not the type that our innocent young are made to perform at the tragic NS camps but more of parting with their obscene wealth of surpluses.

Yes. Don't we think it is time that the extremely wealthy citizens who would not have what they have today if not for the sacrifices of the bulk of the population who paid for the rising and inflated prices of goods and painfully met their housing and car loans come rain or shine?

Hence, in the wake of escalating fuel costs and the accompanying rising prices of food, services and goods, would it not be right-minded for the rich and famous from both the private and public sectors to step forward to display their patriotic spirit to god, king and nation?

After all, surely they can part with the huge profits they made in good times at the expense of the slogging rakyat. They do not have to do so in the name of charity. Just in the name of plain loyalty, patriotism and love for the very nation that made it possible for them to bask in so much of wealth.

Perhaps, to lead the way the prime minister and his entourage of BN party members should step forward and surrender a sizeable portion of all their wealth that is well stocked away either locally or abroad.

They can begin this patriotic spirit by first selling off all the extra fleet of gleaming cars in their garages, the excessive plots of land and the many bungalows they or their proxies own.

They could even do away with all the orders they may have placed for new, imported furniture for 2008/9. And for the extra pearl necklaces, gold and diamonds too.

After stepping forward in the true spirit of leadership by example, certainly the millions if not billions of ringgit we may pool could help this nation to stand tall as a beacon of true democratic hope to the world.

It will certainly make every citizen fall on their knees in full homage to our exemplary leaders.

Only then can our leaders preach to the nation about cost savings, prudent spending and cooperation to tide over the uncertain future.