The tail-end of the Mahathir era and the beginning of the premiership of Pak Lah had witnessed profound changes in the maturity and outlook of the middle-class segment of the Malaysian society. We now begin to sense vibrations that mark the beginning of a new wave of nationalistic sentiment among a new generation of Malaysians.

They have been signing a harmonious chorus clamouring for a truly Malaysian Malaysia and the creation of 'Bangsa Malaysia'. A Malaysian society where all Malaysians will stand together as a unified citizen having equal claims and rights to their country, Malaysia, for which they bear together the responsibility for its defence and well-being.

A country that embrace meritocracy and transparency. A caring society that take upon itself to help the less fortunate and the needy in offering them with better opportunities. Their minds and emotions are ready for the establishment of this new social, economic and political order. Many have viewed this as a national imperative for national survival in the globilised world.

The more significant events that have evolved recently could be summarised as follows:

1) The growing popularity of the Internet as a new domain that liberalises personal communication and facilitate dissemination of information. It provides the new generation of Malaysians with a new channel and forum to deliberate current issues and challenges that confront them. This has enabled them to understand each other's aspirations and their differences better. Most of them have good educational background, curious and eager to take new challenges. This has made them more liberal in their racial outlook. They appreciate the impact of globilisation on the survival and livelihood of the country.

2) This development has resulted in the evolution of the Bangsa Malaysia vision. It marks a period of deep contemplation into the Malaysian soul as a society: the common survival, challenges, glory and hope that they need to built and share together.

3) The 'feeling good' factor that envelops the nation following the shift of power to Pak Lah and the overwhelming victory for the Barisan Nasional during the last general election are eloquent testimonies to this.

Indeed, the environment for once appear to be conducive for the release of their long bottled-up aspirations for a more enlightened and democratic leadership. A Malaysia that embrace meritocracy, a polity that have abandoned crude racial bargaining as a basis for working together; the concern for national competitiveness for survival in a globalised world for once appear to be real.

4) The process, conduct and outcome of the recent tri-annual Umno supreme council election was a major shocker to the new generation as it graphically exhibit the true colour and creed of Umno. The whole episode turned out to be an ancient opera , with deceit, corruption, betrayal and avarice as its central theme. A shocking revelation indeed: the king alas is announced naked: a painful contradiction of what had been preached had been breached by the preacher himself.

The disappointment and disenchantment with Umno that follows may result in the new generation to find a new vehicle for the realisation for their dreams

5) The release of Anwar Ibrahim have ignited a new breath of hope among his cult members, the opposition parties and some NGOs. All may not be lost after all! The scarred tiger, beaten but not lost, is readying himself for a dramatic return to the arena giving an alternative hope and promise for the birth of a 'civil' Bangsa Malaysia.

Yes Umno with all of its hypocrisies, betrayal, and contradictions is not only set to implode but has made itself irrelevant with the rapid loss of credibility. Whilst the opposition parties are still in shambles, Anwar Ibrahim and his supporters are actively preparing themselves to grasp any opportunity and eventualities. The new generation of Malaysians is mentally and emotionally ready for the realisation of a new 'Bangsa Malaysia'. Malaysians therefore are on the threshold of a new epoch in the history of their nation building.

The question now is who will be the great hero that will win the day to emerge as the architect who will help, colour and shape the vision of 'Bangsa Malaysia' and a civil and more democratic Malaysia.

Could he be Pak Lah? Najib? Anwar Ibrahim? Or even Ali Rustam. Your guess is as good as mine!

They would be fighting with each other ala mice fighting for a stolen cheese. Let it be reminded however that the cheese in the first instant belongs to the new generation of Malaysians and old Malaysians who are young at heart.

Let us together watch this episode unfold itself with interest.