There are those who believe that changing the government is the panacea for all maladies, according to Communication and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak.

He said while blaming the government for all that goes wrong is convenient, the veteran politician, however, argued that changing the guard is not the solution.

“There are those who suggest the solution to solving all problems is to change the government and all the problems will go away.

“Is that really the solution or is this merely a snake-oil merchant's solution on how to cure all problems?” he asked in a blog posting this evening.

For example, Salleh said changing the government would not solve the problems of racism and religious intolerance.

“It is people who create racial and religious problems. So unless Malaysians are prepared to seek peace and harmony that is never going to happen even if you change the government,” he added.

Similarly, Salleh said the same rule applied to issues related to the economy.

“The same goes with issues related to the economy. Have the critics ever explained how changing the government can make all Malaysians rich?” he asked.

Malaysia, he said, is not in outer space but part of the global economy.

“Whatever happens in other countries affects Malaysia. So Malaysia is not isolated and insulated from what the other countries do.

“Today the world has become an expensive place. The cost of living has spiralled in any country you look at. Some complain that Malaysia is too expensive.

“Actually it is not Malaysia but a world problem. When others sneeze we catch a cold. So no change of government can change this,” he added.