In response to the letter by Sri Darma Vijaya, we are quite astounded by the failure of the writer to see the plainly obvious fact that the current ruling Barisan Nasional coalition has been suffering from too much power, instead of too little.

Over the past 50 years, BN has been returned - with rare exceptions - with two-third majorities in the Parliament as well as most state assemblies. There is no excuse that the ruling party has failed in anything due to insufficient power - if any excuse is called for, it has more to do with too much power without the necessary checks and balance.

Without the need to take a partisan position, we can see how the current ruling coalition suffered from unchecked power. Indeed, it has been more than resourceful. For example, the lose of billions of ringgit in currency speculations and more billions wasted in the rescue plans for various privatised 'crony projects'.

BN is also more than forceful - witness the frequent resorts to the (ab)uses of repressive laws in the half century.

It is also more than decisive to the point of being 'recalcitrant': sticking to its guns even in the face of overwhelming opposition and evidence to the contrary of their position. Take for example, the Bakun dam, Broga incinerator, (the half empty) Petronas Twin Tower.

If we look at the two-third majorities regularly given to the ruling coalition in the various official assemblies of people's representatives, we find that it has consistently been used to tighten up repressive laws. For example, the most notorious Internal Security Act has been revised more than 10 times! Whereas anti-corruption laws, which potentially can help bring about much good to the country's governance, has been left in its toothless state for years.

If there has been any slight improvement in laws - for instance, the tightening of rape laws, adoption of Domestic Violence Act, Sexual Harassment Act, etc - it has always been due to outcries and tireless pressures from the people, not through exercising its two-third majority in Parliament.

Sri Darma has misleadingly pointed to 'weak' Asian and African countries and conveniently blamed their problems on the dominance of opposition members. Firstly, many such countries are not 'weak' if the strength of the dictatorial regimes are considered. True, they are weak in socio-economic terms but that has little to do with the number of opposition members in their parliaments.

The ruling parties which usually hold overwhelming powers, should answer to that. In fact, those parliaments which have more opposition members are usually found in advanced industrialised countries in the West, and thus disproving Sri Darma's misleading assertion that opposition is to blame for a country's wrongs.

Sri Darma tried to tap into popular disenchantment with politicians by pointing to their self-serving ways. But aren't the ruling parties themselves the ones who account for most of the politicians who are paid for by the people? And how do you exempt the top politicians from catching the disease of corruption and their self-serving practices? Are they saints or God-sent prophets? If we are not despots worshippers, we will always prefer the rule of elected governments than unelected or unfairly elected ones!

The letter by Sri Darma is but an unashamed, patronising apology for the continuing dictatorial power for the ruling coalition in Malaysia. We strongly disagree if BN or any parties for that matter - to continuously hold on to such unchecked power. We have had almost half a century of that. Enough is enough. It is time we the people and voters vote for more checks and balance. Yes, we need more democracy, not 'strong(armed) governments' - no matter of what brand!