It was revealed recently on the Internet that our Minister for International Trade and Industry owed Telekom more than RM10,000. What is puzzling is that the phone was billed under the ministry, and yet it can accumulate such an amount. She might be busy travelling or playing golf, but I am sure she has a personal assistant to look after such details. Telekom, however, did not disconnect her phone like what they would to us ordinary mortals.

Then we have Khairy Jamaluddin, the famous son-in-law, who already thinks he is above the law, having accumulated speeding offence tickets totalling over RM5,000. Here again, some people appear to be above the law and untouchable, his father-in-law being the prime minister. More amazing was the fact that he had been driving with an expired licence!

I can bet my bottom ringgit that he will be treated with velvet gloves and be given only a gentle slap on the wrist. He might be in a hurry to become the next PM but such lapses are not qualities we are looking for.

In the case of the two 'bocor' MPs, the Parliament Speaker of the day could have been more decisive by ordering the two to apologise there and then or get out. But being MPs of the ruling Umno, such rules do not apply. It would have saved much time.

Earlier, we had the famous councillor from Klang who could build a palatial home without planning approval, yet the house is not required to be demolished. Does it mean we should build first, preferably with expensive materials, so that it would seem wasteful to demolish?

Is it any wonder that our perception of law and order is at its lowest? That leaders can break laws with impunity instead of setting exemplary examples must have given the people the notion that everything 'boleh kau tim punya'. If we think about it, the problems we face today can be traced to the lack of discipline.