The biggest impediment to political change in Malaysia is not the government but the opposition itself. Sure the government uses undemocratic and unfair laws and policies to make the job extremely difficult for the opposition, but if it did not there would be no need for change.

Opposition parties in many other countries have succeeded against governments that were far more restrictive and tyrannical than the Barisan Nasional government. It is true that Malaysians want more fairness, less corruption, more freedom of speech, more transparency etc. but what we want above all are peace, stability and economic development.

To have any chance, the opposition must prove to the Malaysian people that they have the unity and competence to rule this complex multiracial society. Unfortunately the opposition parties in Malaysia don't seem to understand this. Often, they are their own worst enemy, showing disunity and often inconsistent and unclear policies.

For example, PAS pushes through the hudud legislation which it knows it can never implement, proving that all it is interested in is political point scoring and not concrete and workable policies for improving the lives of Malaysians.

During the last election DAP joined PAS in a coalition of opposition parties with absolutely no clear plan to resolve their differences. All the government needed to do was point out how unworkable this was, and it got free votes from the understandably worried non-Muslims. After the election this coalition inevitably 'broke up' (with DAP's exit), proving the government right.

Keadilan has been unable or unwilling to put sufficient distance between itself and the 'Anwar issue' to prove that it is more than a single-issue party. Now, their inconsistent 'please everybody' stand on hudud doesn't inspire confidence that they would be able to make the clear-cut decisions that would be required if they were to come to power.

The opposition parties need to get their act together and fast. If the current leadership can't do it then they need new leadership. Without doubt it is an uphill struggle. The government has put a mountain in their path but the mountain isn't going to go away. So, if the current opposition can't climb it, then we need someone who can.