Quite honestly I am pretty tired writing about this, but I'll give it another try.

On Monday 15 Nov, the prime minister smugly entertained some reporters' questions on the cabinet reshuffle and snap elections.

Why can't these reporters, for a change, corner the prime minister on why the present government can't continue until the end of its present term and then call for a new general election.

Let us hope the prime minister is man enough and put his faith in Allah that at the end of this present term of government he will seek a new mandate. If it is yours, it will be yours.

I simply don't understand why even the opposition seems to go along with this charade where the ruling party can move the goalpost i.e seek a new mandate when the economy has been thoroughly massaged quite frequently with the connivance of Bank Negara.

The people too are fooled into feeling so good that despite all their predicaments, one kain pelikat or a pair of school uniforms for their children are enough to make them euphoric about the ruling party.

Isn't this a little dishonest, and hideous?

I bet even the opposition alliance would adopt this same (ala Westminster) Machiavellian tactic. When it suits us we got rid of so many Westminster practices like the jury trial, etc.

If an Islamic system of government is rather unpalatable, why can't we at least adopt the American system where the terms of all political offices including that of the president is fixed by the constitution?

Or just look at the practices in Iran, China, Brazil, France and many other truly democratic states.

I pray to Allah that we will not have our own Marie Antoinette, the Perons, Mao-Chiang Ching or the Marcoses.