In spite of the Ministry of Education's disagreement, Perlis wants its students to attend school from 7.45am to 4.30pm? In spite of what Rais Yatim said about it being wrong to arbitrarily curb a person's freedom, Perlis wants a mandatory night curfew o­n teenagers under 18 last month? Or do away with the need for Muslim men to obtain a first wife's consent to a second marriage in spite of widespread protest from women groups? ( 'Lone ranger' Perlis MB under fire again - this time from Pak Lah) .

Aren't these initiatives reminiscent of Selangor and Johor's attempts to enforce compulsory HIV test for couples intending to marry that drew criticisms and could not work?

What about Selangor MB's instructions of Dec 23 last year to restaurants, coffeeshops and hawkers centres to take down all signages that carried beer advertisements? Wouldn't this imply that Carlsberg breweries too have to relocate from Selangor or Formula 1 championships at the Sepang Circuit (with their large banners and billboards advertising Fosters Beer) called off? What is the message here? That playing golf with drinks is as dangerous as driving under alcohol? Come o­n!

What is actually happening here? That states try to go alone whenever they can without consultation with the people and without heed for multiculturalism or without approval from national leaders and federal ministries?

As events turn out, most of these initiatives may get some media notoriety but for the wrong reasons and whether there is any political capital to be gained from them is at best moot.

These initiatives have not factored in wider considerations of merits and demerits and implications and often are indefensible at national level, cannot be supported, and as soon as they are launched have to be backtracked, modified and allowed to be slowly forgotten by lack of implementation.

One common thread is the attempt to jump o­n the bandwagon of enforcing morality.

But they are not upping the ante o­n PAS in enforcing stricter morality in Terengganu and Kelantan, are they?

Why are they following the PAS style of appearing moralistic as the sole basis of political platform?

At least this Umno division leader (Seri Kembangan Umno branch secretary Ariffin Osman) came out with something original - not following PAS. He wants the green and white colours in Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) logo changed, never mind that it will cost ratepayers RM500,000 ( Umno councillor dreads green colour, wants MPSJ logo replaced ).

As your reader Al-Han said, "For heaven's sake, can't people like Seri Kembangan Umno branch secretary Ariffin Osman for o­nce fight for the welfare of the people? There are other pressing issues we face every day. Figuring out how to prevent people from dropping dead because of dengue would bring Ariffin more fame and glory." ( Green is forbidden! )

The heart of the issue is quality.

Can politicians articulate something relevant, insightful and good for the multicultural communities and the nation that can, at the same time in the march to personal political fame and glory, also win support o­n rational grounds from NGOs, national leaders, opposition members alike?

The record so far has not been encouraging. They backfire just like the report

of sedition lodged against your o­nline bulletin.

So I ask myself what would I do if I had political aspirations and want to enhance my national profile without having to say things that backfire and draw public flak more than win praise.

It would be good if I had the brains to articulate something truly intelligent and insightful and good for the constituency and the nation.

But if I can't and don't have that "stuff", I would pick o­n others' brains. I'd listen to what goes o­n in whatever public forums available o­n the grouses of the rakyat.

Then again the grouse may be relevant from a section that will not win consensus from other sections of the public.

I'd try to find an issue that can galvanise and win consensus of whole communities.

Now, as an example, if I want to show that I am even better than or at least qualified to be eligible as national leaders, I would have my state set in motion measures that will eradicate o­n permanent basis vagrants, drug addicts, or eye sore squatters or dirty public thoroughfares and toilets to make it a model state and not just temporary measures to impress our visitors for NAM.

I would have a circle of close advisors of different mindsets and background to give me different perspectives to an issue and advise me o­n how best to balance the different and many a times conflicting pressures of a certain policy or position. o­nly when so satisfied will I venture to utter it as a policy for implementation and go after personal glory and political fame instead of reap public ridicule or earn rebuke from national leaders.

By the way, this advice is proffered o­n gratuitous basis.