The government of the day is certainly - even by comparison with yesteryears - inundated with numerous challenges. Such tribulations in many instances are both unprecedented, and to a large extent, come with intense public interest.

Against this backdrop of developments, politicians need to come to terms with reality. The time has come upon our fifty-year old nation to have politicians who are professional and not merely the 'street smart' type that we have been putting up with.

As we comb the media reports and listen to talk at the warong or share thoughts within corporate corridors, it does not require rocket-science to analyse the sitz-im-laben that ails our socio- political scape.

There are five crucial parameters that politicians must quickly grasp with integrity if we are to see any progress for the nation.

The first challenge is that of the perceived notion of corruption. As the cost of living escalates for the large middle-class population, corruption will not escape the eyes and ears of the rakyat.

As such, politicians need not only speak of war against corruption, but more importantly they must be seen to be against corruption themselves. Rhetoric will have no place here. Living by example takes center stage.

The second challenge is for politicians to demonstrate their acute capability in addressing the pervasive poor delivery system that is associated with the public service.

As long as government officials are seen as propagandist machinery or agenda-setting agents for the ruling class, politicians will always be perceived as being part of the problem rather than being a reliable solution to improve the poor delivery quality.

The time has come for politicians to intelligently accept the mantra of 'walk the talk' and 'talk the walk' in their promises to clean up and promote effectiveness at the workplace. The age of publicly giving out brooms for poor performance and having 'meet the boss' campaigns and carnivals are certainly outdated.

Third is the wastage of resources. You cannot anymore preach to cut spending to the rakyat when street lights remain switched on in broad daylight or decorative and flood lights burn all night long from under trees and building facades.

Likewise, if two are hired to do the job of one, as seen within the public service departments, no politician is going to survive public antagonism. The time has come for politicians to be in control of failings as much as they want to be on top of credos of success and power.

This also gives rise to the fifth challenge namely a sense of accountability.

As the rakyat struggle to stay afloat in these trying times, politicians will be held by the collar for accountability of their actions and inaction. He or she who can report responsibly for his or her successes and failings in a timely, intelligent and convincing manner will pass. Others will only fall under the axe of the rakyat 's protest eventually.

It simply means that politicians who are incompetent - the wrong man for the wrong job - will not survive. They will only be adding more minus points for their fellow members too.

Last but not least, the principle of transparency knows no limitations. Any politician who is still dreaming of getting away beneath a cloak of disguised threats will not survive in this new age of challenges.

Today, the new media that we are still learning to appreciate the hard way, is empowering every man in the street. The advancement of computer information technology enables the truth to surface faster than the victim is prepared to learn.

Civil society, too, is taking a big stake in the transmission of information especially when it concerns the welfare of the citizens. Hence politicians must learn fast that the question of whether to be transparent now or later is totally redundant in this digital environment. Only remaining transparent counts.

Hopefully, our leaders will come to terms with the changing environment and the growing challenges. Otherwise, the price has to be paid eventually.