It came with the dissolution of the parliament. The sullen mood after the week long Chinese New Year holidays was abruptly changed into another form of festive mood, the Election Day mood. The streets are now merrily decorated with banners, posters, signboards of various political parties and political figures (as if competing 'who gets the most posters up wins') almost all over the country.

The newspapers and television channels are now on a campaign marathon, but unlike in Western or more developed (or even in some developing) countries where both the ruling parties and the opposition are given an equal opportunity to run their campaign on any form of mass media, all the available media channels here are swamped by the same ruling political parties.

Just like earthworms on a rainy day, the newspapers are now filled with pictures and columns portraying politicians holding a needy child, giving alms to the poor, hammering nails on a rundown hut of an old ailing couple (with his Rolex reflected by the camera's flash and a platinum ring glimmering on his right). The same politician who for the last four years was only been seen in his big Mercedes-Benz with a pitch-black tinted windows.

Nevertheless it is a time to celebrate, to celebrate freedom of speech, to celebrate freedom to choose a leader, freedom to choose a government, to celebrate for a new beginning, a new era, a change from the past. But the questions remain the same - are we celebrating for the right reasons? Will we ever be able to celebrate for the right reasons? Will there ever be a change?

Malaysia has been an independent country for over 50 years now, but apart from the British Empire we have never had a change in government. Did we gain independence from one empire just to fall onto the hands of dictators? But on the other hand, can the people of this country embrace a change? Or more likely will the people demand for a change, and when?

Nonetheless, nothing last forever. The Egyptians, the Persians, the Romans, the Spanish, the British are some of the great empires which in the end faded from history. When the former government falls, a new one shall rise, where the last government failed, a new one shall be glorious.

When the government has been corrupted to the core, when the people become victims of their greed, when the country is ruled by lust, and when their leaders have become effeminate, the people shall call for a change.

Perhaps it is not a time to mourns the loss of an old and sickly king, but to embrace and celebrate the young and able king.