Many Malaysians, especially the middle-class, are hypocritical lots: from afar, they only want the United States and Britain to be more democratic, accountable and transparent but when it comes to the politics in our own country, they speak and behave like little fascists and cowards.

Compare and contrast the opinion they hold on George W Bush and Tony Blair on one hand, and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on the other.

Whatever the merit or otherwise of the Iraq war, Americans and Britons are allowed to speak up freely and hold mammoth demonstrations. The media is vocal and legislators debate the issue without fear or favour. And all these freedoms are guaranteed by their constitutions and laws.

In a nutshell, we can see that both sides of the fence are given fair and balanced treatment by the media and law enforcers.

Look at our own country, people only enjoy the freedom of speech if and when they criticise the United States, Britain, Singapore, Australia, or other countries that the Barisan Nasional government does not like. With the honourable exceptions of some honourable writers in malaysiakini , I have not read any critical comments on Abdullah's performance in his first 100 days.

The columns and letter pages in the New Straits Times and the Star are reflective of this Malaysian hypocrisy and even mediocrity. The pages are either filled with anti-American polemics, opposition-bashing propaganda or suggestions on how to clean up public toilets, or quit smoking.

There is no intelligent and critical debates on the new prime minister, his cabinet members and the government, or the policy successes and failures of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In MCA's Star , it is even worse: everyday, we see photographs of Ong Ka Ting smiling and shaking hands with Abdullah or Najib Abdul Razak. Even children now know these are not news anymore. I hope these people will change their attitude and stop being hypocrites.

Charity begins at home: use your independent and critical minds to help democratise Malaysia and hold the new prime minister and his government accountable everyday (not just in the first 50 or 100 days of his 'honeymoon'). After all, we live and work, and will die in Malaysia.