It is funny to hear people say that Anwar Ibrahim will never have a chance at being prime minister outside of Umno. It is even funnier to hear people say that we should be grateful for our government. In Malaysia, we have only seen one political party in government and as a result, we do not understand the fundamentals of democracy and our parliamentary system.

We have not realised that it is we, the people, who elect the government to serve and uphold the constitution of the country. We are fearful to understand what may lie ahead should we ever have a change in government. However, a mature democracy ensures the people of the right to change governments according to the majority. The US alone had a Republican in office in 1980 (the same time as Dr Mahathir Mohamad), a Democrat in 1992 and now a Republican again in 2000.

We not only had the same government we had but we also had the same leader for a 22- year span! This is really nothing to be proud off. By having a change in government, it puts the onus on the government and his leader to perform. To govern with the highest calling of his office.

The opposition in Malaysia in the last two decades have been seen as subversive elements and many have been arrested under the Internal Security Act. A threat to national security it seems. Now, our Mahathir says it is not good to have to weak an opposition. In the UK, the opposition is known as Her Majesty's opposition party. They are recognised as the government-in-waiting.

It is not impossible, therefore, for Malaysia who claims parliamentary democracy to have a change in government one day.

The mark of a mature democracy is the smooth transition of power. This is only possible if the police, armed forces and the civil service understand their role in nation building and protecting the constitution. The result of almost five decades of rule by the same coalition is the blurriness between BN the political entity and BN the government which is an elected office. The blurriness extends to the civil servants who see themselves as BN officers rather than of the Malaysian government.

We must educate our young on the freedom of choice and he responsibility of electing a government that truly upholds and protects the freedom of all Malaysian people through the rule of law and the constitution of Malaysia.

It should never be said that it is impossible for Anwar Ibrahim to be prime minister. He who says that says that democracy is dead in Malaysia. That our election is a farce and the rakyat will never have a say. I would like to believe that elections in Malaysia are free and fair and that any party can one day hold the office of government. On the flip side, any government who fails to protect the constitution and the Malaysian people could be removed from government.