The PM is at it again! Recently, at a workers' gathering o­n May 17 (they simply had to organise a special 'do' for him even though May Day happened while he was o­n his leave of absence), he criticised Malaysians, especially workers for demanding higher wages and scolded them for trying to ape the West.

He went o­n to remind us that we must know who we really are, and that the time has not come when we can behave like rich people.

I cannot help, but reflect o­n projects such as the Sepang Formula o­ne circuit, the Petronas Twin Towers, the taxpayer-subsidised national car, and the ultra sophisticated and loss-making LRT, all of which points at our obsession to be better than developed countries.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's executive jet, which can fly to London non-stop, would put many first world leaders to shame, and his residence (purportedly designed for Anwar Ibrahim) is definitely bigger than 10 Downing Street.

Our very own multi-million ringgit concert hall, and a permanent philharmonic orchestra (financed by national oil company Petronas, of course) surely belongs to a country with a First World status. Just wait and see, the next Organisation of Islamic Conference meeting will definitely try to beat all other past hosts in terms of opulence, grandeur, and lavishness.

I don't know about you, but the PM's words seem a bit hollow lately. Don't you agree?