It seems that Malaysians are in general a pathetic lot who have not read enough to think for themselves. As a result, they are constantly looking for an iconic figure through whom their voices may be heard.

For over 30 years, I have seen politicians and public figures change their image or even beliefs like curtains. Anwar Ibrahim is a case in point. He started as a student activist who was later detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), before emerging again as an anti-establishment Islamic youth leader with massive followings. Just as everybody expected him to join PAS, he was parachuted into Umno as a rising star.

But the calculative move signalled the beginning of his personal calamity and misfortune. The rest, as we know, is history.

To his credit, Anwar has stood firm on the path of reform since his release from prison nearly 10 years ago. That he was bold and visionary enough to champion the idea of Ketuanan Rakyat rather than Ketuanan Melayu , buttressed with a new economic model that would truly benefit the poor Malays and others, is more than laudable.

Should he persist to the end, history will surely remember him more kindly than will his nemesis Mahathir Mohamad, who is certain to have his name chiselled as a racist par excellence.

NONE Ong Tee Kiat ( left ), who just lost another (and most probably last) bid for MCA presidency, is no different from many. While in the political wilderness, he would shout his lungs out for reform and portray himself as the party’s conscience whiter than snow. However, he has the habit of forgetting all the promises made once back in the mainstream.

A deputy youth minister at one time, he had not spoken a word against the mind-numbing Universities and University Colleges Act nor criticised any other draconian laws that have made Malaysia a subservient nation. Instead, he relishes in blaming everyone else but himself for his own failures, pretty much like Mahathir.

Still, he commands a huge following in the Chinese Malaysian community, with his diehard supporters buying his lame victimhood argument time and again.

NONE Marina Mahathir ( left ) is, no doubt, a popular “social activist” and a prolific writer admired by many. Recentely, she has written a piece on the passing of Nelson Mandela and his legacy, lamenting also that Malaysian leaders, unlike Mandela, are 'revengeful'. Since she did not name names, one is left wondering whom was she referring to - Najib Abdul Razak? Anwar? Or Mahathir Mahamad who issues one statement after another just to bring our society into greater dispute?

Perhaps those who are quick to glean glory from Mandela should bear in mind that the man left with his conscience clear because he did not throw his political opponents in jail as Mahathir repeatedly did for over 22 years! At least I don't recall any moment in which Marina had stood up and told it straight to the prime minister back in 1988 or 1998 that he must stop destroying our public institutions including the police, the press and the judiciary.

Touching Christmas message

Now, Khairy Jamaluddin, the Umno youth chief, has ccome out with a rather touching Christmas message on Facebook that again wins him a resounding round of applause. It clearly shows that many Malaysians either suffer from political amnesia or are blessed with abundance of generosity to forgive. However, seeing people forward his message online simply makes me puke.

Wasn't it slightly more than seven years ago that Khairy courted much controversy by warning the Malays against a “Chinese takeaway” in their backyard?

Wasn’t the very same Khairy, with his eye on a top post, who once shouted at the Umno Youth assembly that whoever that failed to wave the keris in the future would be nothing more than a traitor to the Malay race?

After the disastrous March 2008 general election, Khairy learned his lesson and conceded that the keris issue had cost Umno dear. He then spent the new few years on rebranding himself and the youth wing, with much success I must say. But it appears that he remains politically agile enough to shift between positions whenever the circumstances call for it, prompting Nik Nazmi to question his commitment to new politics.

NONE As some netizens have said, Khairy need not talk much about how his experience in a Catholic school helped preserve his Islamic faith, for the litmus test is, can non-Muslims use the word ‘Allah’? What will be his answer then?

Failing that test, Khairy will only prove himself to be no different from Najib Abdul Razak who, too, had attended a Catholic school but now thinks the Muslims’ faith is so weak that they need to claim the ownership of ‘Allah’.

Let’s not forget, Umno is racist to the core and one should not expect its elites to change their spots overnight. Whatever self-congratulatory reformists there are, the best strategy is to hearken to their words but always watch their deeds. After more than 50 years of one-party state, Malaysians should indeed be wise enough to know what cakap tak serupa bikin really means.

JOSH HONG studied politics at London Metropolitan University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. A keen watcher of domestic and international politics, he longs for a day when Malaysians will learn and master the art of self-mockery, and enjoy life to the full in spite of politicians.