I refer to Rita's letter One brave Umno man spoke up . Like her, I also salute Shahrir Abdul Samad's courage to speak up against the dominant faction in Umno. His is certainly a voice of reason and moderation in Umno.

However, with due respect, I must also point out that Shahrir has been a dissident of Umno since the great split in Umno in 1988. Has his voice of reason and moderation changed Umno or its authoritarian ways of doing things?

The answer is sadly negative. Many tragedies in Umno and the nation have happened since 1988, but Umno has not been impressive in tackling them. There is no hope for internal reform in Umno anymore, despite the noble intentions of a small group of dissidents like Shahrir.

Umno is already corrupt to the core, and no amount of effort at internal reform can save it anymore. MCA and Gerakan must also learn from this and not entertain any more illusions.

Both reformists within Umno (like Shahrir), and component parties like MCA and Gerakan should seriously consider the new option of breaking away from the rotten Umno. They should join the alternative forces, organisations and personalities outside the Umno-dominated establishment to constitute a new and alternative centre of power.