In the wake of the near-thorough leadership change within the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing last week, the Chinese-based Central Publicity Bureau of Parti Keadilan Nasional issued a statement urging the Mahathir administration to follow in the Communist Party's step by initiating a smooth transfer of power to the younger generation.

To me, nothing can be more ridiculous and puzzling than for a party that aspires to bring democracy in its real sense to the Malaysian voter to have issued a statement as such. That the statement has come from a Chinese-based unit within the multiethnic party confirms my long-held suspicion that many Chinese Malaysians are still obsessed with a misguided nationalism, although they may be sincere in fighting for greater democratic space in Malaysia.

I do not seek to embroil in any controversy with the 'old leftists' in the movement, whose sacrifices for the noble causes have had a positive impact on my political conviction; neither do I intend to 'down' China in order to prove my 'authentic' Malaysian stock  so prominent that one was almost led to believe that nothing more significant or important was taking place around the world during that particular week except for the celebration of communist rule at which a few thousand, appointed delegates met in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to praise to the skies the remarkable leadership of Comrade Jiang Zemin and applaud the emergence of the 'Fourth Generation of Leaders' under Hu Jintao.

Never mind that the new Politburo Standing Committee is expanded from seven members to nine, possibly a result of behind-the-scenes jostling for power, and that it is dominated by at least six cronies of Comrade Jiang; the Chinese dailies here in Malaysia extend their congratulations and praises all the same.

Now, compare this with the cold-shoulder treatment and sarcasm received by President Ah-Bian, who was popularly elected by the Taiwanese people representing at least 40 percent of the Taiwanese voters two and half years before. As recent as a month ago, Nanyang Siang Pau ran a Taiwan series, reporting on the current situations in the country, ranging from politics, economy to social issues.

Little surprise, President Ah-Bian has been projected as a 'populist' not knowing how to run the economy properly, now that hundreds of thousands are queuing for jobs in Taiwan and Taiwanese enterprises are moving en masse to mainland China. The theme is clear: Taiwan is sinking since Ah Bian's election as president. I wonder why there has not been similarly extensive report on the plights and sufferings of the laid-off workers and the poverty-stricken peasants in China.

I understand the good intentions of the statement issued by Keadilan's central publicity bureau, that it wanted the Mahathir administration to make way for the next generation instead of clinging on to power without end. However, citing the Chinese Communist Party as an example is completely illogical and damaging to the struggle of Keadilan.

It lays bare the twisted mentality of the Chinese leaders in the political reform movement. Economically, China may be a quasi-free country; but the ruling party still will nip any political dissent in the bud, having been severely challenged by the student movement in 1989 that ended in bloodbath.

The constitution of the People's Republic continues to uphold one-party rule under the leadership of the Communist Party, and Jiang Zemin, although to be retired next spring, will remain the chairperson of the influential Central Military Commission. Already, the New Sunday Times of Malaysia has, in its latest editorial 'Engineering China's future', called for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to assume a "position of prestige" as such after his retirement next October.

It is perfectly logical for the subservient English daily to show its unfaltering loyalty to the prime minister, although I seriously don't see if there is anything that a pseudo-democratic Malaysia can learn from an outright totalitarian China with regard to politics. But for a publicity bureau of a reform-minded party to do likewise? I couldn't help laughing my head off.

Democracy is democracy. Those in Malaysia fighting for greater democratisation would be in no position to denounce the separation-minded Taiwanese as 'traitors to the Chinese race' if they eventually voted for independence — it'd be their legitimate right to do so — although I seriously doubt they would so long as China remains militarily threatening. If we are not yet convicted of the essence of democracy — by the people, of the people and for the people — we should stop complaining about the autocratic behaviour of the Mahathir administration.

As for those who claim to believe in Marxism yet chastise the Taiwanese for being 'unChinese' in pursuing independence, I would like to remind them that it is not nationalism that unites the working people, but class differences. There are plentiful examples of smooth transition of power that Malaysia can learn from, such as Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan and South Korea. China is almost at the bottom of the list. Stop being too obsessed with Chinese nationalism, and we may begin to see things in greater clarity.