The interview given by Zaid Ibrahim was very refreshing, not to mention his ideas to move Umno and the government forward. The fact that he was even allowed to discuss such thorny issues in public is a mark of a slight hint of change in the mind set of the younger politicians.

One does not see Tony Blair discussing party issues at 10 Downing Street, but many a times in Malaysia everyone uses official government buildings to hold party meetings or undertake party businesses. That is not correct.

Perhaps Zaid should also champion the bringing back of the one-member-one-vote system for the Umno presidential election rather then the current delegate voting system.

Moreover, MPs should be nominated and chosen by local constituents and not by the party president. This would be democracy in action at the grassroots level. Only then will money politics be completely ridden off as one has to bribe the entire constituency if one is to get anywhere. As it stands, the prime minister is a person not even chosen by his own party, let alone the nation. How silly is that?

Coming back to Zaid, I wish him well in his quest, but hope he does not anger the powers-that-be and end up like other past great beacons of light backstabbed by some insecure power hungry zealot.

While he is at it, may I also ask Zaid to remind the government that the civil service and all companies and organisations controlled by the government should be free of political appointees.

For example, anyone taking up a position in Khazanah Berhad or Mimos should barred from getting involved in politics. If they do decide to get involved, then they should resign their posts.

Presently, there are too many politicians sitting on the boards of government-controlled companies. That should stop if we are to achieve a separation of powers between party/government and business.

If Zaid can achieve all these, history and the future leaders will immortalise him.