I think LJ's derision of the alternative budget in the letter Alternative Budget: wishful or wilful is most unbecoming and detrimental to the development of good politics in this country.

I'm not by any means a supporter of the opposition but merely a believer in having both a strong government and opposition for the country.

About a year back, there was criticism that Barisan Alternatif had only one agenda — free Anwar Ibrahim. It was then said that for the opposition to win the people's vote, it must first demonstrate an ability to govern by propounding its views on the various issues afflicting the country, and how it intends to deal with them. If I remember correctly, one of the issues mentioned was the budget, hence the alternative budget presentation.

If the budget has weaknesses, by all means criticise it, but please don't be so crass as to deride the presentation per se. The alternative budget is a necessary route for the BA to travel to achieve credibility, and in time it should also have its policies for education, defence, etc., notwithstanding the fact that it is unlikely to form the government soon.

I think that the opposition in all the major democracies live life this way — UK's Labour party were steam-rollered for decades by Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives who are in turn steam-rollered by Tony Blair today.