In his latest broadside against PAS at the recent 50th Barisan Nasional anniversary celebrations, Mahathir labeled them as liars and that they were being purposely vague in their setting up of an Islamic state in order to hoodwink the non-Muslims into supporting them.

He is therefore implying that the non-Muslims are more worried about being subjected to Islamic laws and than other little things like the independence of the judiciary, upholding human rights, corruption, acts of discrimination and racism, police violence and high handedness, inefficient civil service, wastage of public funds, bailing out cronies, protecting loss-making ventures at the expense of taxpayers money, etc.

As if to compound matters we also are seeing a bunch of leaders ably led by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi seemingly not too interested in addressing the above afflictions, and it will be business as usual when Mahathir goes.

I am not for one minute saying that PAS is the answer but so far they have made the right noises except on the Islamic state issue of which I agree are vague and inconsistent. The speech also confirms that Mahathir sees PAS as BN's greatest threat and he is not too worried about the likes of DAP and Keadilan, both which are more secular in approach, much like the BN.

And so with elections fast approaching each of us have to ask ourselves: what is important to us, our identity as a society and what of the 'noble' values that should be an integral part of it. Are we to hope to see a radical reform within Umno and the Barisan Nasional and in the meantime be happy to make do with the status quo for fear of rocking the boat and ending up the creek without a paddle?

I'm afraid just like Umno, it will be business as usual for the majority of us, for we as a nation are not ready yet for earth-shaking reforms and concepts such as human rights, and justice is still alien to many or just not important enough. In his own inimitable style, Mahathir still has us where he wants us, and Barisan will survive for a little while longer.