I really fear for our once great country and envisage a bleak future ahead if the following are indicators: education mismatch with the expectations of the real business world, a downslide in foreign investment, organic growth of many local companies being static, universities dropping in ranks, English language standard falling, politicians not addressing the real problems, marginalisation of the races, political parties based on ethnicity, difficulties in starting up businesses due to bureaucracy, meritocracy being an alienated in the civil service and corruption being a way of life in every sector and strata of society.

All is not lost. What we need is political will with our politicians putting principles and the nation (and profits) before themselves. Elfin decisions like the Manchester tour saga in Parliament indicate that our bureaucrats cannot make decisions. Why has it to go to Parliament? Are our parliamentarians too free to engage in such petty issues? Priorities are wrong. They should be deliberating major issues affecting the future of the nation.

And the 'bocor' incidents speaks lowly of the morals of our politicians. They took nine long days to apologise. Where is their integrity and ethics? I really feel the future of any modern-day democratic nation lies in having competent, qualified and forward-looking politicians who believe in and practice integrity. There should not be any compromise for this group of people who represent the country in nation-building.

In several countries like Japan, Korea and Taiwan, the integrity and professionalism of their politicians speak volumes of their nation in rising to be classified as among the top trading nations of the world. If their politicians are exposed in scandals or for serious integrity issues, they quit voluntarily or even commit suicide. This is their mentality of 'no compromise' expected by the citizens.

When can we witness this in Malaysia where everyone knows that the malady of corruption is so serious that it is affecting every fabric and aspect of life? When my teenage kids question me on the actions that the nation is taking to combat corruption, I am embarrassed to be a Malaysian as I know these action are only pledges with no solid action.

The champions of this issue should be Pak Lah and Najib collectively with no favours to politicians. I keep emphasising on politicians as in Malaysia, every case of corruption, abandoned project, illegal trade and non-compliance of major rules has an element of politicians being involved directly or indirectly. This is a fact.

Their influence on our day-to-day lives is outrageous and uncontrolled. Imagine if they have integrity! We would have been a developed nation (with balanced growth) by now. Horrendous fact!