I read M Bakri Musa's ' Advice to the PM's adviser ' with some interest. Apart from his profession as a surgeon and also political and social commentator on Malaysia from afar, I didn't realise that he also had expertise in the career guidance arena as well.

More often than not, the political columnists that I've read would dispense advice to politicians on two broad counts: policy issues and their moral behaviour and judgment (or lack thereof). They would critique certain policy decisions made by a cabinet minister, chastise politicians accused of being involved in money politics and corruption, lash out at statements or speeches made by politicians that are deemed insensitive or racist or just downright rude, and the occasional dressing down for the politician caught in a compromising situation with a younger person of the opposite gender.

This is perhaps the first time that I've read a political commentator dispensing career advice on his column. How appropriate is this, one may ask, even if it was used as a 'literary device' as claimed by the author?

It was not a letter hinting at corruption or abuse of authority on the part of the 'special assistant' to the prime minister. It was not about his possible influence leading to bad policy decisions by the prime minister. It certainly did not point to how his 'over-confidence' was getting in the way him doing his job.

What the 'letter' or column was, in my opinion, the view of an outsider sheltered in the serenity of the Californian hills exhibiting his ignorance on the value of political experience and on the importance of values rather than academic and professional qualifications.

There are many paths that one can take to make oneself suitable and effective for political life. The author should be well aware of this from his perch in America in the midst of the US Democratic primaries. The diverse backgrounds of aspiring Democratic candidates testify to this fact. An ex-general, a rich senator, a former governor, a former trial lawyer and a preacher number among those still contesting.

Why should one prescribed path be any better for one individual than another political aspirant? Should Karl Rove go back to school and get a PhD in political science so that he can better advice President Bush?

What the author fails to understand (or at least fails to note in his 'letter') is that there are no

substitutes for life-experiences in politics. Getting good scores for one's GMAT, going to a good business school or a good journalism school to obtain one's Masters degree, getting paid a six-figure salary as an investment banker or a management consultant, are all fine and good. But it doesn't necessarily make one a better politician or political advisor.

What is more important are the values that one holds. What is more important is trust, loyalty, honesty, integrity, youthful idealism and energy, a willingness to learn and work hard, humility, empathy and graciousness. What is more important is that the experience that one goes through in life makes one a better person, someone who can understand the needs of the people and of the nation so as to better serve them.

And all this, one can't learn in any business school in the US or in any multinational company. One has to learn this in the 'school of life'.

So, Saudara Bakri, I hope that you can continue your constructive criticism on the Malaysian political system from afar but I also hope that you can limit your commentaries on issues to do with the policies and moral judgments of our political leaders. Dispense with the career advice, please. Especially since, like you say, you've never even met the man.