I don't know if the shocking manner by which Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad announced his resignation was appropriate or not but the good thing that has come out of it was that it provided an occasion for him, and us, to gauge and know how much he is still respected and needed as the nation's leader.

Appeals for him to stay are not confined to Umno. They include ordinary men on the street, opposition party members, organisations and even regional leaders like his Singapore's counterpart.

Under his strong stewardship, it is hoped that he advances further the following trends in the country which have emerged in the latter part of his administration:

  • A move away from race/ethnocentric politics of affirmative policies to meritocracy;

  • A move to pragmatism by reviving the importance of English to meet the challenges of globalisation;

  • A higher profile for the country on the international stage, continuing confidence to devise our own developmental strategies to meet economic challenges rather than follow prescriptions of others;

  • A tolerance if not immediate encouragement of participatory democracy. This is seen in the government's creation of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and tolerance of the existence of and criticisms by NGOs that are allowed to flourish. Of late even an independent news company like malaysiakini has been spared the government's vilification campaign. Save cases like those implicated in militancy or demonstrations, there should not be anymore Operation Lallang to rope in dissidents across the board under the Internal Security Act;

  • A move towards more public accountability. People who hold public trust should be held accountable for its breach. Police black sheep that break instead of enforce laws should be brought to book. Greedy cronies should be relieved off their influence and positions, and corporate manipulators prosecuted;

  • An independent judiciary; and

  • A strong resistance against creeping religious extremism.

    • Mahathir being the only leader that commands a wide spectrum of support is pivoted at the vantage point to push these emergent trends further if he so wills it.

    I hope he will write his role on the pages of Malaysian history for having helped the country to make the turn and go the distance in these trends.