The Barisan Nasional government's latest move to amend the Internal Security Act is appalling. It adds credence to the accusation that Malaysia is a police state.

The notion that a threat to the ruling political party is a threat to national security is an excuse for holding on to power and the nation's wealth. It is not a democracy and elections are just a farce.

Malaysia cannot boast of free and fair elections because any opposition to the government is quashed and silenced. That it is happening is already so obvious.

The many misdeeds of the ruling elite is putting us all to shame. Imagine jailing the man who exposed the corruption allegations of two Umno leaders who were never charged in court because evidence "could not be substantiated" though initial investigations revealed otherwise.

There were many other shockers too like the jailing of an opposition leader who fought on behalf of a schoolgirl who accused a chief minister of rape. She was sent to correctional school, the opposition hero was sent to jail while the accused was set free without proper investigation into the case.

Now, put all these in light of the ISA. Why is it necessary? Why would the BN government staunchly support the use of ISA on the people of Malaysia? Why issue an amendment to the act that could overrule the civilian court of Malaysia? Where will the people of Malaysia find protection now if not from the courts? The police? The prime minister or his deputy? I think not.

Unless we give our unquestioning support to the ruling government, we are considered a threat to national security. If the jails were big enough, they will probably put all those who voted against the BN in the last elections behind bars and throw away the keys. This way they can say that they have100 percent support from the people of Malaysia.

How far will the ruling coalition go in condoning crime and questionable practices for the party's sake? The scary thing is they would probably say "all the way".

This is not a democracy but an autocracy. Fear has been instilled in the people that political change comes at the expense of the country's stability. Yet in the US, government changes hands from republican to democrat almost every eight years!

All I can say is, we shall remember and the people must remember. No matter the odds, we must take this to the elections and vote for true democracy and justice.