With reference to SK Wong's letter 'What did Mahathir do for Malaysia?' (July 19), I would say Dr Mathathir Mohamad has done plenty for all Malaysians. Yes, he is only a human and humans make mistakes. As a mortal, he has done a great deal to the best of his ability.

No single leader can do everything by him/herself. A CEO heading a corporation still has a line of managers under him, each in charge of something. If there is an incompetent manager, minister or MP, who chooses not to do work hard, the one on top cannot help but overlook this or assume all is fine.

Anyone who assumes Mahathir is the one man behind all happenings in Malaysia is naive. Handling of nation's resources to a handful of cronies? I wonder then who are not cronies?

This term first came about during the Anwar Ibrahim saga; before that there is no mention of it at all. Rationally thinking, how many 'non-cronies' are there who are capable of handling mega-projects? I wonder if a burger seller is awarded such a project, will he be called a crony as well?

The accusation that Mahathir is controlling the judiciary is another one which I found most insulting. Judges are mostly people of high morality and integrity, and to say that all of them have to succumb to one man, Mahathir, simply because he is the PM - again, a very naive thought.

Study the laws of the country and you will find that there are a lot of technicalities which may either prevent judges from taking a certain judgment. Anyone who has lost a court case would usually blame the court as being unfair, but is that really the case?

Gandhi was a great leader but he too has plenty of enemies, some even wanted him dead and one actually assassinated him. Even the US, who claims itself to be a champion of human and equal rights, has plenty of shortcomings that need no further mentioning. What has Bush or Clinton done for the US farmers, fishermen, teachers, etc.? For whatever that's done or not done, is the president solely accountable? Of course not!

The ISA is another contention which many have came out openly to oppose, be it on human rights grounds, fairness or simply political reasons. Yes, in general, for the sake of justice and freedom ISA is not that right, but look at it from the point of the general welfare of the silent majority who want peace and to go on with their normal life. Using the ISA to put away potential threat to social security ( sic ) makes a whole lot of sense.

Experience the hooliganism of those protesters during the Anwar Ibrahim trial and one will appreciate the ISA. The majority of us do not wish the whole country to go down the drain like Indonesia just because a few wanted the right to do whatever they feel is right.

Mahathir may not be a perfect leader but the majority of us who help ourselves enjoy a peaceful and harmonious life here in Malaysia. Those who lose out will of course try their best to ruin the victor so that they may emerge on top. We accept this but until another leader can measure up to Mahathir's track record of providing a peaceful, harmonious and conducive living environment for the majority of the rakyat , I am still for Mathathir.