Writer KHK has masterfully unveiled the true face of this country in his letter to malaysiakini : ' The reason for our suffocating mediocrity ' (Sept 19), which is a penetrating analysis of the malaise that we have found ourselves in.

Behind the facade of glamorous projects and incessant media hype of 'achievement' and 'success', is a nation ravaged by two decades of authoritarian misrule.

A young nation that started on a solid foundation of sound democratic principles and excellent legal and administrative infrastructures has been transformed into a virtue totalitarian state where the integrity of the judiciary and other democratic institutions have been so corroded that they are now held with mistrust and contempt.

For the ruling coalition, politics have become a game for fortune hunters and self-seekers, void of the spirit of public service and political idealism. Values of integrity and honesty have been replaced by political expediency where the ends always justify the means.

Yes, Malaysia has grown economically, and this is evident from the mushrooming of factories and skyscrapers. But this is not the real issue, as other countries around us have also done the same. The real question is whether we have developed ourselves in such a way that we are now confident to face the challenges of this era of globalisation and fast ICT advancement.

The so-called economic miracle that occurred in this country and in some of our neighbours during the decade from mid-80s to mid-90s is in fact largely a foreign creation - a direct result of a sudden influx of foreign investments into this region in search of low-cost production base and high returns. Through this FDI, capital, technology and management were imported wholesale into the host countries.

Stripped of these imported expertise, how much is left of the "economic miracle"?

It should be abundantly clear by now that Malaysia has not developed its home-grown technological base to sustain these industries. Neither have we produced any significant entrepreneurship that could stride at ease in the international arena. Increasingly, Malaysia feels its inadequacy in a level playing field of competitors many of whom have obviously caught up or surpassed us.

An immediate culprit of this malaise is the poor quality of Malaysia's education system and the collateral lag in research and development, which shortcoming is part and parcel of an over-arching political system where meritocracy is abandoned in favour of racial supremacy, democracy is degenerated into authoritarianism, and good governance replaced by a system of patronage and largesse. These policies breed widespread corruption and all permeating mediocrity.

Compounding these flaws is an autocrat whose delusions of grandeurs have led to an unending building spree of grandiose mega-projects of high esthetic impact but low economic returns. These projects, built on a top priority basis, have drained the nation's resources and diverted its energy on the more essential aspects of nation building: uplifting education, improving efficiency, promoting civil society and forging national integration.

Sadly, these white elephants are now being heralded as symbols of Malaysia's achievement and success. With the unfailing collusion of the local media, this propaganda will undoubtedly create enough delusions among the people to mitigate the negative impact arising from the nation's retrogression in civil liberties, moral values, law and order, clean and efficient government.

From the psychological point of view, the phenomenon of these mega-projects can also be interpreted as a reflex of inferiority complex, an admission of failure. If we are successful as a nation, and feeling confident and comfortable of such success, do we need to resort to squandering billions to create these artificial props in order to tell the whole world that we have

made it? How have these expensive projects contributed to the improvement of our quality of life, the uplifting of our material and spiritual well being?

In the same vein, we must have felt a deep sense of inadequacy and underachievement, or else why should we constantly shout "Malaysia Boleh!" over the slightest feat and constantly trying to break records of one sort or another?

An example of such hunger for recognition is found in the overblown accolades heaped upon a Malaysian swimmer Abdul Malik Mydin who successfully swam across the English Channel recently.

Hailed by the local media as "conqueror", he was given a triumphant reception at the airport by no less a party than both the prime minister and the deputy prime minister themselves and a host of other leaders.

He was further rewarded with a datukship and a house. And the prime minister even thought fit to glorify him repeatedly in important speeches including the Independence Day speech and the Budget speech, holding him up as a symbol of Malaysia's achievement and as a beacon to inspire other Malaysians to excel.

For such rare and unprecedented honour and praise, one would have thought that Abdul Malik must have broken a world record by being the first swimmer to "conquer the English Channel". But alas, more than 600 such "conquerors" have preceded him, among these are invalids and a 12-year-old girl.

Writer KHK has accurately analysed the causes that have precipitated the "suffocating mediocrity" in this country, but stops short of suggesting a remedy. Instead, he asks readers to suggest one.

The answer is obvious. Push for the rise of a third political force in the present bi-polar status quo of a race-based ruling coalition on one end and a religion-based opposition party on the end. Between these two poles are DAP and PKR, both of whom have vowed to restore democracy and good governance on a non-racial platform. Given sufficient electoral support, these two parties should emerge as a creditable counterbalance to the present ruling coalition to force positive changes to the current political scenario.

Regrettably, negotiation for an electoral pact between these two parties has now broken down, due to seemingly intractable human relations difficulties. This electoral pact, which will eliminate or reduce splitting of votes between the two parties, is absolutely essential if they want to avoid decimation by the ruling party. Knowing the historical significance of this current negotiation, it is earnestly hoped that the leaders involved will find enough magnanimity and far sight to rise above the present squabbles to give the people a real chance in starting a new course for this country.