Sabeb's letter, [#1]It's all about power[/#] (Dec 8), endeavours to equate PAS politics with Umno's, arguing that ultimately it is all about power.

It is interesting to note that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself subscribes to the philosophy that "politics is all about power", a belief system in which one with power can do what he wants! Many are caught in this philosophical trap, little realising that politics is defined as "the science of government" and "it is all about people and not power".

We contend that the fallacy of Mahathir's concept that politics is about power has led him to his infamy at the terminal end of his leadership. Trapped in this baseless theory he gets confounded. His failure to take cognizance of this truth has dealt a severe blow to his hold on political power.

People are the units of power, this is the fundamental truth; in the hand of each citizen is a unit of power which can be translated into a vote, an expression of anger, a quantum of criticism or even an act of demonstration against establishment. In this paradigm of politics the people rule supreme, they hold the ultimate power.

Political power vested in leaders by the people, if used wisely and virtually, will not invoke the wrath of the people.

Today the people's wrath is beginning to show up, directed to the leaders who abuse the power given to them by the people. The letter writer's argument that PAS leaders and Umno leaders are the same is misleading and inaccurate.

Mahathir and Umno leaders have not used power judiciously and correctly, whereas PAS leaders in Kelantan have yet to display gross abuse of power.

The point is not about power but about how you deal with people. Kelantan Mentri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat has displayed honesty and responsibility in his decade-long tenure, while Mahathir, on the contrary, has innumerable allegations of power abuse looming over his head.

This has angered the people and they are reacting and when the people power reaches its critical mass, it will shatter the stronghold of Mahathir's desperate cling to power.

Thus, the people are the key elements in the political playing field; once they arise in large numbers no power on earth can stop their devastating force.

So let us go back to basics, Umno or PAS is not the issue, it is justice or injustice that is the crux.

Equating PAS with Umno is merely a political "tantra" evading the vital issues of justice in governance.