Reading the latest national media, one cannot help but wonder whether Malaysia has lost its plot, or worse still, lost its place in this global world. But I hate to believe so, as Malaysia is capable of better.

We are a nation with a strong legacy, able and capable of doing better. Malaysia is no place for a Mugabe, Malaysia is not a hideout for terrorists, Malaysia is not a nation where elected governments are thrown out by street protesters wearing red and yellow, Malaysia is not a nation where parliamentarians throw chairs and hurl foul language at each other. We are definitely capable of better.

However what seems irksome is that the politicians seems to be ignoring the voice of the March 8 elections and the recent Kuala Terengganu by-election through which the ordinary people are demanding a credible alternative and more transparency from the incumbent.

Barisan Nasional component parties are still along racial lines, though Pakatan Rakyat is more multi-racial but ideologically diverse based on religion. When will we ever rise above communal politics, towards a more secular, socialist and just society?

When we hear PAS wanting to implement hudud law, the natural reaction from non-Muslims is a huge outcry. As a matter fact, when I reflect on it further, I can appreciate the benefits of it from a conservative point of view.

After all if done right, isn’t safety and security one of the pillars of a civil society? Perhaps if it is not framed in such an archaic and draconian way, the spirit of the law of strong discipline and justice may be acceptable to more.

So, perhaps, it is not so much about the religious laws but more about what we Malaysians want as shared values, a balance between conservatism and liberalism.

I definitely support tough sentences and laws on criminal offenders; the question really is how it is implemented and whether we start to ‘bend’ the law because of the status, power, know-who and position of the alleged offender rather than laws according to one's race or religion.

PAS would do well to learn how to balance this spirit of morality and draw out conservative values rather than imposing the letter of the religion.

The reports about how youths have resorted to hooliganism marring the New Year celebrations are certainly behavior and values that I as a Malaysian conservative abhor and reject and I am confident this is a view shared by many other Malaysians regardless of which race or religion they may belong to.

What has happened to the concepts of Rukun Negara, muhibbah , and Malaysia Boleh ? Have they now just become slogans of the past? What is the new ‘Formula Malaysia’ for building a nation?

Are we going to be a nation focused on basic core values of poverty eradication, strict public security, equal opportunity, care for the less privileged and respect for rule of law or are we going to be a nation lacking in vision, led by self-serving politicians seeking the fast route to monetary self-enrichment?

Whether it be Barisan and Pakatan, it is clear a new formula for Malaysia is needed, one that is based on values and core purposes, about whether we want a conservative and gracious society or the current road towards extremist, radical and greedy communalism.

What do conservatives in Malaysia demand? And conservatism must be toned by pragmatism - not extremist ideologies.

When we die, each of our bones turns to ashes which are no more fertile to the land than another’s because of our colour and creed. So let us live and let live so our contributions be worthy to the nation.