Who has done the greater damages, political parties or the voters? We have very often come across voters lashing out at politicians not to insult their intelligence. It used to be that voters hurled this disgust at the BN government.

Following BN's footsteps, the opposition have suddenly transformed themselves into the likeness of the ruling elite.

Today, both the politicians from the ruling end and the opposition have a conceived mind that Malaysians are gullible folks and can be manipulated with ease! Really? I don't think so!

The voters are just as disgusted at both of them today!

1999 gave voters hope for better things to come when BA declared 'justice and equality for all', or was it 'towards a Just Malaysia?' Both sound the same, and both gave hope to the voters.

The percentage of gullible folks is definitely on the decline, but frustration is on the increase! It is now July 6, 2002, close to three years since the last general election.

Was it the betrayals and sellouts of the voters or the wisdom of the voters who chose to vote BN to continue leading the country?

What is wrong, what went wrong and what is the wrong? Where are the lies, betrayals and sellouts? From voters or politicians?

Salleh Abas, being once a lord president, and had, together with four other senior judges of the Supreme Court, unaminously decided in Feb 1988 that the term 'Islam' or 'Islamic religion' in Article 3 of the Federal Constitution in the context means only such acts as related to rituals or ceremonies which in effect amounts to rejection of Malaysia as an Islamic state.

Recently, he agreed too that Malaysia is still a secular state.

A few days ago, Salleh Abas chose to ignore the 'social contract' as set out in the 1957 Merdeka Constitution.

It is indeed unbelievable to hear Salleh Abas defending PAS in its tabling of the hudud law in Terengganu, claiming that it is the wish of the people in Terengganu and that, such blatant violation of the Constitution should not be objected.

Being a former lord president and solicitor-general, one would have expected Salleh Abas to use his knowledge and experience to advise PAS against defying the Federal Constitution!

In the same context, the government of the day, BN has the majority of the rakyat to rule. They won the 1999 general election with more than two-thirds majority, didn't they?

Can BN also use this 'wishes of the people' justification to implement undemocratic policies?

Let's say BN invokes the ISA and throws all those who are against them behind bars in Kamunting, can it be justified as being the wish of the majority of the rakyat?

Lies, betrayals and sellouts, where do they come from? voters or politicians? During utter disregard and total contempt of the Constitution, components in BN remained silent.

But, a more aggressive violation of the Constitution is seen coming from BA! It must be remembered that in the 1999 BA common manifesto, all the component parties had made a commitment to uphold the fundamental principles of the Malaysian Constitution!

What about now? Isn't this a clear straightforward case of lies, betrayals and sellouts? Where are the promises made in 1999? Has Keadilan forgotten the Permatang Pauh declaration? How much does BN and BA differ?

Components in BN have been quiet about Mahathir's declaration that the country is an Islamic state. Likewise, components in BA have also been quiet over PAS's bulldozing for a Islamic state.

Both are for a theocratic state! The question of who is more Islamic is now overshadowed by 'who's the extremist? Back to square one, but with a greater clarity, 'moderate or extremist?

In defence of the voters, I must categorically state that lies, betrayals and sellouts come from the politicians! The voters are always on the defensive, in defending their rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

Let us all defend and uphold the Constitution, the social contract and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement that Malaysia is a democratic, secular and multi-religious nation where Islam is the official religion but the country is not an Islamic state.

May the framers of the 1957 Merdeka Constitution rest in peace.