Dear deputy prime minister (DPM), I read through your statement in all the major news portals this morning on your take in 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the problems besetting Umno and the nation. You know what, DPM, and with due respect, your statement was just too docile and meatless. It sounded like a lecture on ‘good governance’ given to school children hearing it for the first time.

Oh yes, how come I have never heard of this before - transparency is important, do not allow problems to fester, wrongdoers must be investigated and brought to justice quickly, trust and confidence in leadership is important, racial harmony and power sharing are important, Umno must continue to protect the Malays and other races and the ‘perception problem’ of Umno has become more critical.

Dear DPM, I don’t mean to demean your statement needlessly. I think for a nation where 52 percent of the populace have voted against Umno and BN, it is way past the lecturing and talking stage on good governance and trust. Who really do not know this country is suffering from massive good governance and trust deficit?   

It is good governance in action most Malaysians want now, not just talk. The dichotomy between words and deeds (your Muar High School Motto - ‘Deeds not Words’) is beyond bridging now. Who do not know the virtue of good governance? But your statement has not shown an iota of your action plan - to put words into deeds so to speak.

If you aspire to be the nation’s next top leader, we want to hear from you your concrete action plan, not loose ‘ideal state’ statements.

One more thing, DPM, I think we should all stop talking about ‘perception’ of impropriety in the government any more. Let’s be realistic, it is not a perception; it is a reality. It is the elephant in the living room either being ignored or going unaddressed.

The malfeasance now is blatant. We used to label corrupted people Mr 10 Percent. Now I think it is Mr 90 Percent. The rakyat would be lucky to get 10 percent of the allocations for their benefit. Am I exaggerating? Well, maybe the powerful and corrupted people have taken 100 percent.

DPM, do you know the original intent of 1MDB?  What socio-economic objectives was 1MDB trying to address? Is it really the function and role of the government to go into massive business and investment ventures when the private sector would have accomplished those objectives with no moral hazard and agency issue? So where did the profit of 1MDB go? Instead, we now have a mind-boggling debt with us.

You talked about the need for racial harmony and that Umno must remain the protector of the Malays and all Malaysians. But have you looked at writings in some of the mainstream media? Even in the 1MDB fiasco, they have tried to spin it into a racial issue. I think it is time for you to be completely honest with yourself and your colleagues within Umno.

The government would have achieved and exceeded any bumiputra programmes if it has done so sincerely and diligently. Is 1MDB a bumiputra programme or a scheming programme? Are you bold enough to state it?   

You said trust is an important commodity any leader must have and I fully agree. First and foremost, can we trust you at least to talk forcefully and frankly of the problems confronting us and the concrete plan to overcome them? Do you dare to ask the right questions? You see, if you have wrong or subdued questions, it does not matter you have the right answers because right answers to wrong questions are still wrong.