The country is on a historic countdown. For the moment, March 27 is increasingly hoped as the moment of truth. Will Malaysians succeed in taking the country forward is yet to be seen.

In the meantime, let leaders from both sides of the divide be told in plain language that when citizens demand transparency, accountability and explanations that concur with common sense, it is not an uprising. It is not even about facilitating an agenda to overthrow a government or to plug in a new political party to take over.

When citizens want plain, clear and honest answers, it is not a mutiny.

So far, the kind of sentiments being blurted out in defense of the sitting prime minister do not add to the strengthening of the Najib Abdul Razak administration. On the contrary, it is further eroding public admiration and trust.

When ministers rebut with rude, uncouth and ridiculous statements in defense of the Najib team, they further damage the reputation of the government.

When those helming the institutions of good governance seemingly offer alternatives that hold no water, it makes the Najib administration look even more suspicious and guilty of holding on to power at all costs.

At some point, our leaders need to realise that the 1MDB and its related financial allegations in foreign media coupled with statements from those that are initiating investigations into the affairs of this unprecedented ‘donation’, ‘investment’ or ‘loan’ of sorts that have been peddled so far, will have decisive traction in the hearts and minds of citizens here.

If Malaysians remain determined to force an explanation that is believable, acceptable and holds water, it is not a case of a rising mutiny to oust the sitting prime minister.

If Malaysians are on the highway route to ‘Save Malaysia’, it is not a mutiny. It is a result of repeated failures to sell an honest, true and credible story to them.

Do not belittle the mind and soul of the ordinary working class population.

What would be a terrible tragedy for any nation is when its citizens get into a rut and could not be the least bothered to ask questions and demand honest answers from leaders they put there in the first place. It is worse than a mutiny, really.

Often, in Malaysia we have been schooled that when you tell a lie too often, it becomes the truth. Today, as the nation goes on a countdown to March 27, we realise that this political mantra that was peddled for so long holds no water.

The age of the Internet is revolutionising the world and the playground of businesses and politics is transforming fast in order to embrace the opportunities offered in this brave new world.

Caught in the pre-Internet framework

But for Malaysia that seems not to be the case. We are caught in the pre-Internet framework where propaganda, fear and intimidation, warnings and restrictions dictate how we should deal with the inevitably changing environment.

The case of unplugging the cable on The Malaysian Insider is just one such example. There are more case examples, like the frequent warnings from the inspector-general of police (IGP); the corporate social responsibility (CSR) effort in sending pilgrims using 1MDB money; shooting down political personalities by name-calling and uncouth language - all of these do not add up to truly prop up Najib.

Meanwhile, leaders from the other side of the political fence must be reminded that they should keep their political party agendas strictly for the general election circuit.

Right now, it is about citizens wanting to get their leaders to correct the wrongs in the way we govern, account to the public and facilitate a sustainable democratic process - all in the best interest of the total Malaysian landscape, i.e. for all Malaysians irrespective of race and religion or political leanings and status.

Indeed, Najib Abdul Razak and his team of loyal warriors have long lost the numerous opportunities to go or even remain on the offensive. Their failure to seize the opportunities at the early start of the crises best explains why former Umno leaders, members and opposition party leaders as well as civil society leaders and followers are converging today and giving traction to the campaign, ‘Save Malaysia’. That is not a mutiny by any measure.