With all the hoopla regarding the release of ISA detainees, it boggles my mind that the most significant aspect of their release has not been noted - that deputy prime minister and future prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is a person who respect institutions and processes.

In line with his view that we are in danger of having a "first world infrastructure and third world mentality", it is quite clear that the incoming prime minister sees the strengthening of our institutions and processes as more urgent than any change in philosophy or agenda.

This is both encouraging and frightening at the same time. Encouraging, because it may lead to a stronger institutions like the judiciary, the police, and the education systems that has been eroded for many years.

Frightening, because it shows that we assume our philosophy and agenda to be perfectly fine, unaffected by the erosion of those institutions. The truth is that philosophy - like lack of meritocracy, racial divisions and corruption - is the very beginning and core of our weak "software", as he puts it.

To the over-exuberant celebrants of the release of ISA detainees, let me say that reformasi is death if you cannot see the irony here.