It is interesting to note that Malaysians are eventually moaning about the haze. Many are choking but far more complain about the lack of visibility and the smell. I must confess that, despite the danger to everybody's health, I find it amusing to notice a parallel.

As Merdeka Day approaches, it is time for the citizens of this nation to realise that a worsening haze has long been gathering over their country's politics. Many are choking on the injustices perpetrated in the futile attempts to adjust the distribution of wealth.

The lack of transparency, which until last week included the Air Pollutant Index, is so pervasive that few know anything akin to the truth. The stench of corruption in high places, nonetheless, is prevalent.

How much worse does it have to get before there is an outpouring of dissatisfaction equal to that we are now hearing about the weather?

It has often been said that a country gets the government it deserves. In view of the inability of successive Barisan Nasional governments to deal with Indonesia over this recurrent problem, perhaps it can be said that the current weather is deserved too! After all, there's no smoke without fire.