Something is really very wrong with the way the country's politicians go about preaching their messages to the people. Their rhetoric are classic examples of that catch-phrase cakap tak serupa bikin or not practicing what they preach.

A few incidences will attest to how good Malaysian politicians are at paying lip service.

Take the recent example of Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, who while trying to show concern over the status of young smokers, failed to stand impartial in working at deterring youths from picking up the habit.

Syed Hamid ( pix ), who is also the Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs (MAYC) president, unabashedly declared that the association was collaborating with two tobacco companies (British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco International Berhad) to educate youngsters on the hazards of cigarette-smoking under the 'Youth Smoking Prevention' campaign.

The 'message' is being imparted via a series of new television commercials that will run until August over RTM2, TV3, ntv7 and 8TV. The commercials will also be aired in cinemas for the next five months.