It is common in Malaysia for children of politicians to participate in politics. Many children of past leaders have become leaders today.

Another favourable trend has now emerged - widows replacing their respective deceased husbands in by-elections. In recent time, the Kuala Kangsar and Batu Sapi by-elections were won by the respective widows of deceased incumbents. Now, as reported, the widow of the late Adenan Satem is expected to fill the void left vacant by her husband.

Why are we so devoid of choices? Are these widows the natural leaders in their own right? What credentials and proven abilities have they got besides being the wives of incumbents? Are parliamentary and state constituencies now a family heirloom?

No doubt winning in by-elections is important. But surely there are other considerations as well.

Are we so short of other capable leaders or sound policies that we must depend just on sympathy and the good name of the deceased? To me, nominating widows to stand as candidates is just that - there is a dire lack capable replacements and there are no sound policies other than to capitalise on sympathy.

MPs and assemblypersons are lawmakers. They represent an important branch of the government - the legislature. Their roles are not as wallflowers expressing “sokong” to whatever that are put on the table.

They, as people’s representatives, are supposed to highlight concerns and formulate proposals for the attention of the government.

I believe if a capable replacement is chosen as the candidate, winning the by-election will not become a problem, despite not being the wife of the deceased.

Certainly we need more MPs and assemblypersons who are knowledgeable and capable if good governance and democracy are to move forward. Right now, it is my considered opinion that many of them know next to nothing other than engaging in coffeeshop talk.

The people must ultimately bear the responsibility. We ought to know when a candidate is a person of calibre or just a wallflower.