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I refer to the malaysiakini report Police state: Anwar backs Mahathir .

This is another unprecedented evolution of the political scenario in Malaysia where a former primer minister is accused of creating a political instability by criticising the succeeding administration. The issue here is not whether Dr Mahathir Mohamad is right or wrong in criticising Pak Lah publicly but whether Dr M's criticism of Pak Lah's leadership style justifiable.

What has Pak Lah been doing for the last three years? I am afraid nothing more than just housekeeping. Most of the construction projects we see going on now are those planned from the previous administration. After taking over a government 'relatively free from problems and of strong economic condition' (as said by Goh Chok Tong), Pak Lah should have been able to propel the nation to greater heights with much ease. Instead, now, what do we see?

Mere rhetoric of Ninth Malaysia Plan is not going to go down well with people. Inflation and unemployment are going up and this has been agitating the people. Their purchasing power is getting smaller. Our corruption index is still high in spite of the transparency and consensus decision-making that Pak Lah is campaigning. Jobs are scarce for thousands of graduates, especially the bumiputeras. Ministers are bickering among themselves in public.

Talk about being transparent - he does not know whether his son-in-law receiving a 'loan' of ECM Libra stock is considered ethical. His considers his son getting contracts from Petronas subsidiaries overseas as 'overseas contracts' not realising that the decisions are made locally. The sugar shortage problem takes months to be resolved. We are losing out to Indonesia in the FDI race.

He cancelled the 'crooked' bridge in Johor with damages payable to the contractor amounting to almost as much of the cost of the actual bridge he scrapped. The tremendous benefits that the project would bring to Johor and Malaysia in terms of tourism and shipping and other economic, strategic and environmental reasons are totally ignored.

The reasons for selling Agusta for one euro by Proton is mind boggling. We all know even a bankrupt business has some monetary value when you dispose of them properly. The crime rate is going up. Snatch thieves are not just stealing, but killing their victims as well. Factories are closing down and moving to China. Mat Rempits are menacing the roads as if there is no law and order. Pollution is everywhere.

Sure, we had a growth rate of 5.2% last year, but this pales in comparison to the near double-digit growth rate that our neighbours, India and China, are experiencing now. We used to have a 9% to 10 % growth rate in the 1980s and 1990s. So where will Malaysia go from here?

In this new millennium where the world is 'borderless', what Malaysia needs is a dynamic, analytical, visionary and brave leader to steer Malaysia to greater heights. He should have a competitive niche agenda with great impact that the nation can strategise on. He should know the true definition of corruption and implement true and transparent political and national governance.

He should be a doer, not just 'rhetoric leader'. He should be a statesman and lead the nation and be able to stand up and defend his decisions - not just keep silent and write notes when being confronted. I truly think the earlier Malaysians realise this, the better the nation would be.

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