There are just too many things wrong with our country. All kinds of things are being said or claimed that are simply not true or plain wrong. People who know better, like academics and professionals, are not speaking up because of fear or because they want to be politically and socially correct. If they do speak up, they moderate what they say. They are afraid to call a spade a spade.

This ostrich mentality is bad for the country. It is worse for the government. There is a disconnect between the government and reality on the ground. The government only hears what it wants to hear. It is living in a self-made world.

The danger is that, without a reality check, the government may actually begin to believe what it says is actually true. This make-belief world is a death knell for any government. History is full of examples of leaders and governments that had collapsed because they had failed or refused to see the writing on the wall.

Some examples. The claim that our universities are world-class is simply wrong and not true. I am a product of the old education system. Presently, I teach degree and post-graduate students in the new education system. I can see the difference. The standards are appallingly low. To refuse to accept this fact can only harm the future of our young. This is not an arena to play political games. Education is too important to be politicised.

Recently, none other than our prime minister said that the Malay agenda will remain a priority of the government. This is wrong because it undermines the very foundation of our plural society.  Such a statement should never come from the leadership of the country, no matter what the political motivation may be.

The agenda of the government should always be national, with provisions for accommodating the special needs of disadvantaged groups in the country. The prime minister and the government should never be perceived as Malay but as representing everyone in the country. This is basic and should never be compromised.

There are serious problems with our institutions. The judiciary is suspect, especially when senior retired judges come forward to indict it with testimony. We cannot bury our head in the sand and say everything is all right. We have to fix the judiciary to ensure that it remains a bastion of justice. There can never be democracy without a functioning judiciary.

The press is a crucial institution. Like the judiciary, it must be independent, investigative, and professional. Its role is to probe issues, ferret out wrongdoings, and be the guardian of truth. It can play a significant role to keep the government and the opposition on the right path.

It must speak for the public interest. The moment the press becomes beholden to political masters and other vested interests, the democratic process gets eroded and the way is paved for nepotism, cronyism, corruption and autocratic regimens.

A responsible government needs an independent press as a sounding board to check its policies and programmes. A press that constantly praises the government and turns a blind eye to its weaknesses and abuses is only leading the government to its ultimate demise.

The civil service is critical to managing a plural society. It must be representative of the diversity in society and must perform without fear or favour. There is no place for little Napoleons in it, with their own private, racial, or religious agendas. It must remain neutral and serve as an obedient servant of the public. A civil service that is beholden to political masters or other interest groups will undermine the very fabric of government administration.

Civil servants are paid by taxpayers. Hence they have a duty to all, not just to any particular group. Their private beliefs, loyalties, and affiliations have no place in their public duty.

The royalty is an important institution under our constitution, with clearly defined powers and roles. Its position is relevant not only for Malays and Muslims but for every Malaysian. It has a critical role to play in checking abuses and omissions that can undermine the delicate balance in our multicultural and multiracial society.

Directly and indirectly it can be a force for progress and peace in the country. The royalty has to be on guard that it does not get co-opted by politicians and other interest groups.

1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is a mistake that the government must own up to. The role of the government is to govern, not go into business. We have been privatising state enterprises for some years. Why the excitement with 1MDB now? Ventures like 1MDB will only place the government in positions of conflict and open it to criticism and attack. The government should avoid such temptations.

The solution now lies in handling the problem in a transparent manner, if the integrity of the government is to remain intact.

What has worked in the past will not work now

A major problem with our decision-makers is their belief that what has worked in the past will work now and in the future. They are unable to understand the shifts in social, economic, and political thinking that are taking place. They are not prepared to abandon yesterday and move on to find new solutions to new problems. They want to retain the past.

But the young have different visions of the future. They want change. Their values are different. They want to be heard. They see the abuses of power, the inequality, the limitation on freedom, the regimentation of society, and the oppressive laws.

The traditional instruments used by the government to control the behaviour and thinking of the people are no longer working. This has placed the government in a predicament. What to do? They have two options. One, to change and move in new directions. Two, to take even a harder line and pursue the past path even more vigorously.

The government appears to favour the second option. This is indeed tragic because it does not move the country forward. The long term outcome of this strategy can only stifle the country and hamper its development. It will disillusion the young and cause them to leave the country or to opt out of the system and not contribute to its development. Both ways, the country will be the loser.

To take Malaysia to the next level, it is essential to tap into the energies and creativity of the young. Any disconnect with the new generation can only harm the government and the future of the country.

Finally, what is our vision of Malaysia for the future? What is the Malaysia we want? From the tensions and conflicts we presently have, it is clear that we do not have a national consensus on a common vision for our country. Different groups have different visions for the future. Some of these visions are dangerously narrow and centered around race and religion.

The government has failed to articulate a vision that can bring the people together. Its approach is partisan and divisive, which may serve its immediate political survival but will ruin the country in the long run. The government must provide the needed leadership.

1Malaysia has not worked because the government has not pursued it with consistency. There are just too many contradictions between 1Malaysia and government policies and actions. The government is seen as discriminative by non-Malays and too accommodating by Malays. This is a difficult balancing role for the government.

This is where leadership is called for or, more accurately, statesmanship. The Government needs to avoid the temptation to think of its immediate political survival. It must think and act for the future of Malaysia.

The government must articulate a clear vision for the future, a vision that has the broadest support of all Malaysians. The vision can be built around the constitution. Once there is consensus on what is the Malaysia we want for the future, we can all move forward guided by a common destiny.

Governments will come and go but a vision built around a common destiny will provide the needed continuity and stability for the country. The danger of a failed state is on the horizon. We cannot afford to continue with business as usual. We need to fix the problems.