I arrived in London
a day after Saddam was caught like a rat. There was near hysteria in the
British capital.

Even the conservative broadsheets sounded like
supermarket tabloids, with the same headlines and blown-up picture of Saddam on
their front pages.

Saddam was ridiculed by almost all the news commentators
for not having the guts to kill himself. One newspaper speculated that Saddam
would be executed by July.

While Bush and Blair differ over whether Saddam should
get the death sentence, they agreed that Saddam should be tried by fellow
Iraqis.

They don't seem keen in letting the International Court
of Justice in the Hague decide on
the fate of Saddam, saying the Iraqis are capable of a fair trial, but many
have questioned the wisdom of handing Saddam to his political enemies.

It is strange that the fate of Saddam should be decided
by Iraqis when it was the Americans who overthrew and captured him.

There has been speculation that the Americans do not want
Saddam to turn the court into a theatre where he would probably project himself
as a victim of American oppression in the Arab world. He would probably play
the religious card to garner support from Muslims worldwide.

In the case of Yugoslav dictator Slobodan Milosevic, the
world had to cope with a long-winded, expensive and unending process.

Bush certainly wouldn't have the patience because he has
an election coming up, while Blair must check his declining popularity.

Saddam must have seen how Milosevic defended himself
effectively against the prosecutors.

Saddam may even bring up evidence of how the US
worked with him to attack Iran,
which would be potentially embarrassing. The same fears are probably being felt
by the Arab allies.

More importantly, the world is not going to be a safer
and better place with the arrest of Saddam. A day after his arrest, it was
business as usual for terrorists who launched another round of bombings.

Until Bush re-examines his policies in the Middle
East, nothing will change. That is the root cause of the problem,
which he unfortunately is not willing to admit.

Let's not forget that Osama bin Laden has yet to be
arrested; even if he is, his web of terror will not disappear.

Bush and Blair have received their Christmas gifts but
the US-led troops won't be home for Christmas this year – that's for sure.

He has stressed that the policies of the Barisan Nasional
government would remain, but things that need to be changed would be changed.
Nothing is cast in stone, in his own words.

Last week, he told Malaysians that he was the country's number one servant to
the nation. He did not say he was he was the number one political master and
neither did he say that he was the boss of the Cabinet.

He said he was not seeking personal glory and that the fight against
corruption, which has been the hallmark of his administration, would be the
main areas of priority.

Malaysians, he said, did not want to have a reputation as a corrupt country and
the country had to prove that "we are incorruptible".

Events over the past one week have put the spotlight on the role of the
Anti-Corruption Agency.

Rather unfortunately, it is still regarded by the powerful and influential
merely as a government agency which is answerable to the government. To the
ordinary people, it lacks clout and autonomy.

Those who are being investigated have rightly pointed out that the ACA should
carry out its investigations quickly and that the Attorney-General should also
not drag his feet.

Casting aspersions upon the integrity of a leader can do considerable damage to
the image of the person. The only way to put an end to innuendoes and
insinuations of this sort is either to charge the person in court quickly or
clear his name.

Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has every reason to be
upset, being the subject of investigations.

It is correct for Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to clarify that
the ACA found no truth in the claim about the 6,000 taxi permits being issued
to one company. The probe is now centred on the issuance of 1,200 taxi permits
to seven companies.

The ACA, on the other hand, must be commended for its readiness to speak to the
press over the past weeks instead of being shrouded in secrecy.

No doubt the ACA needs confidentiality in carrying out its work, particularly
when it is still gathering evidence, but by adopting a high profile approach,
it would be seen as taking a more pro-active stand.

Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was also upset with the ACA
for investigating the award of a RM1.5mil timber concession to a company owned
by a 26-year-old woman.

The controversies over the procedures and functions of the ACA are certainly
good reasons for the need to increase public awareness of the fight against this
social cancer.

The time has come for the leadership to seriously consider making the ACA truly
independent by having it answerable to Parliament and not just the
Executive.

More funds should be allocated to the ACA to enable it to be staffed with professional
people with expertise in various fields and disciplines to deal with corruption
and sophisticated white-collar crime.

It may not happen overnight and it would be unfair to impose such a demand on
the young administration, whose hands are already full. Gradual changes are
also more effective in the long run.

Certainly, it is easy to make an allegation against a certain politician for
corruption but proving it is not easy.

Without the skills of competent accountants, auditors and lawyers, it will be
difficult to comprehend the complexities involved in many business deals tied
up with suspected kickbacks. To expose such wrongdoings effectively, the ACA
needs specialists in its trouble-shooting tasks but that can only be possible
if it is able to recruit such qualified people.

Politicians, who are being investigated by the ACA, end up getting prominent
press coverage because they are public figures.

No one asked them to be politicians, in the first place. After claiming to be
people of high integrity and morals, they must be prepared to face the
mudslinging that comes with the job.

There is no such thing as only positive news coverage as Malaysia
is not a communist country and if we want to have more democratic space, then
the press needs to inform the public effectively about the fight against
corruption.

Politicians must understand that they have been voted in by the people to serve
the people. It is not a licence to enrich themselves.

They may be Yang Berhormats but they are not above the law. They are also not
above criticism.

Certainly, our Ministers and Members of Parliament are not political masters
although many are politically powerful.

It is time to get over this master-servant mindset because the ultimate boss is
the rakyat, who will decide their future during the elections.

Corruption, he said, "interferes with the smooth running
of the government, interferes with the implementation of things we want to do,
and creates problems in the public delivery system".

These are strong words. That was not all – he promised to make the
Anti-Corruption Agency "strong" under his leadership and vowed to make the ACA
work faster and harder.

Last week, he wanted Malaysia
to do two things, as a follow-up to his pledge to clean up Malaysia.
He called for the setting up of a regional anti-corruption agency as well
agreeing to sign the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention, thereby
committing Malaysia
to fighting the scourge through domestic laws and international
cooperation.

By signing the convention on Dec 9 in Mexico,
Malaysia has
taken the fight against graft another step further.

The treaty, together with the United Nations Convention Against Transnational
Organised Crime, provides the international community with several tools for
policing and prosecuting corruption and crime on a global scale such as money
laundering.

But more importantly, we need to support Abdullah in promoting corporate
governance. Requiring company directors to attend courses on business ethics
amounts to nothing if the leadership continues to give special treatment to a
handful of businessmen through direct negotiations.

Every Malaysian businessman deserves a chance in bidding for a contract. It is
only through an open contract that the government can ensure accountability,
healthy competition and to ensure that the best and most qualified man
wins.

That is the manner that businesses should be carried out in Malaysia
if we want to hold our heads high. Rules cannot be changed mid-stream or when a
deal has been concluded. A gentleman's handshake used to be good enough, but
now, even with a signed agreement, no one is quite sure.

Such fickle-mindedness tarnishes our reputation, even if everything is legally
carried out. While the leadership must be allowed a free hand to decide on
awarding contracts to certain companies and individuals in exceptional cases,
Abdullah must certainly take a fresh look at our business practices and ensure
that the economic cake will be enjoyed by as many businessmen as
possible.

At the micro level, we continue to hear ordinary Malaysians complaining about
corrupt enforcement officers. The crooked officers, in the words of the Prime
Minister, are the ones who interfere with the daily lives of people trying to
eke out a living.

These would include van drivers or immigrant workers being stopped by the
roadside by enforcement officers.

Such checks are necessary if these enforcement officers are serious about
combating crime but it is another thing if it leads to other matters of a
criminal nature.

For members of the public who have been suffering silently for years,
Abdullah's fight against corruption is certainly refreshing. At the same time,
Malaysians are aware that they cannot have unrealistic expectations.

Last week, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung suggested that traffic
police be given the authority to fine traffic offenders on the spot.

He said policemen should have the right to issue receipts to errant motorists
once they paid the fine, adding that a maximum fine of RM300 be imposed on
traffic offenders and that they should not be given any discount.

No one can doubt Chor's seriousness and commitment in wanting better
enforcement by the police to help reduce road accidents in the short term but
not many Malaysians are likely to support Chor's proposal.

Most Malaysians have had experiences, at some time or another, with our traffic
policemen when they are stopped along highways. We have heard enough
allegations of policemen who asked motorists how they want "to settle" their
offences.

If they opt to pay the full amount of the summons, these crooked policemen
would discourage these motorists by saying that they would have to go to the
courts at the place where they committed the offence.

At least, those are the stories many of us keep hearing from our friends,
colleagues and relatives. I am sure the top police officials would have heard
the same stories unless they want to claim these cases do not exist.

Of course, there are plenty of good policemen, who brave the hot sun and rain
daily, to keep the traffic flowing. These unsung heroes, I believe, make up the
majority of our traffic policemen.

Unfortunately, their good work has been tarnished by policemen who are prepared
to sacrifice their dignity and pride for a few red notes. I am sorry to say
that the public perception of our traffic policemen is the result of this small
group of cops.

Allowing traffic cops to issue receipts on the spot is not going to deter
motorists from committing offences. In fact, it could get worse as dirty
policemen would demand for more from now.

The best way is still to send the summons to the motorist. Speed traps, manned
by policemen, often create unnecessary jams, and they lead to dangerous
situations along highways.

The police, with the help of the Road Transport Department, could stop renewing
the driving licences of offenders who refuse to pay these summonses. The
traffic police, with the support of the media, should also visit these
offenders at their homes if they keep ignoring the law.

Enough warnings have been given by Mr Nice Guy – expect real action from
now.

Many Penangites, especially from Chung
Ling High School
and Han Chiang
High School, have ended up studying
in Taiwan
universities, mostly in engineering and computer science.

The food is also similar: I found oh chean (fried oyster omelette), bah kut teh
and mua chee (rice ball with peanuts) in almost every night market.

All these commonalities made travelling in Taipei
very easy for me.

Besides conversing in Hokkien with officials of the Government Information
Office – the equivalent of our Information Ministry – I had the opportunity to
exchange pleasantries with President Chen Shui-bian in the dialect during the
recent National Day celebrations.

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office information division director Cecilia Chang
said it was a shame I had visited many cities in China
but not Taiwan
(the so-called renegade province of China).

Besides, it was the third invitation from the Taiwan
government and I was reluctant to turn it down again, especially when Ms Chang
was ending her three-year posting in Kuala Lumpur.
I had turned down the second invitation earlier this year when Taiwan
was hit by SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) which took 84 lives.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office is the de facto embassy in KL as Malaysia
does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
However, bilateral trade between the two sides rose 2.4% to more than RM9.1bil
in the first four months of this year, with Malaysia
enjoying a trade surplus of about RM3bil last year.

Together with several South American, Caribbean and
African journalists, we were invited to stay for a week in Taipei
in conjunction with the National Day celebrations on Oct 10, dubbed the
Double-Ten bash.

My first taste of the kind of diplomatic treatment meted out to officials like
Chang in Kuala Lumpur came when I
attended a dinner hosted by the Information Minister Huang Hwei-Chen.

Together with Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri from the Malaysian Friendship and Trade
Centre, we were seated at one of the back tables of the posh hotel to signify
our diplomatic status – or the lack of it. At the same table were officials
from Singapore,
Switzerland and
Germany,
countries in the same situation.

On the main table, together with minister Huang, were editors and diplomats
from some of the 26 nations that recognise Taiwan.
They were mostly small, developing African and Latin American nations that
receive generous amounts of aid in exchange for their support.

Despite the celebrations, there was a dampener for the Taiwanese that night.
Word had gone around that Liberia
would be severing ties with Taiwan
and would announce it formally after Oct 10. Three days later, the announcement
came.

Taiwan
immediately accused China
of using its influence in the United Nations to pressure Liberia,
saying China
had threatened to interfere in the budget for UN peacekeepers if the West
African country did not sever ties with Taiwan.

During my one week's stay, the daily briefings often included some China-bashing,
which confused some of the Latin American and African journalists because the
Taiwanese were, at the same time, telling them the staggering amount of
investments they had put in mainland China.
In addition, more than three million Taiwanese travelled to the mainland last
year, making China
the top tourist spot for the islanders.

With the presidential election likely to be called in March, Chen's Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) has started beating the war drums to win votes,
including "creating a new constitution in 2006" and vowing to "walk our own
Taiwan road". The Constitution is over 50 years old, approved at a time when
Kuomintang ruled mainland China.

Speaking in Hokkien to win the hearts of the grassroots, he has talked about
changing the island's name from the Republic of China to Taiwan,
saying "Taiwan
is not a province of one country nor is it a state of another."

Chen, who would be defending his post, called the one-China principle "abnormal
thinking that should not exist, it should be corrected" and said "there is only
one China and
one Taiwan."

Since then, he has raised the stakes with even stronger remarks from his
officials but the Taiwanese media has downplayed such outbursts, concentrating
on calls for dialogue instead.

Such sabre-rattling has no doubt irked China,
and many Taiwanese, especially those born in mainland China
or have investments there, are worried.

Overseas Chinese, including the community's leaders in Malaysia,
have expressed their uneasiness over the tension, particularly the push by Chen
for a referendum.

US-trained political scientist Dr Alexander Huang, vice-chairman of the
Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's
top mainland policy-making body, has added fuel to the fire. With his American
drawl and stinging criticism of China
at press briefings, Dr Huang could well have stepped out from the White House
with Donald Rumsfeld.

As I left his briefing, a confused journalist from Senegal
asked me why Taiwan
was not putting its money elsewhere if China
was the number one enemy.

The answer is simple: the Chinese are practical. It made sense to invest in China
because of its cheap labour and huge market. The use of a common language and
culture also makes it easier for businessmen from both sides to make
deals.

And as Dr Huang admitted, the Taiwanese and the Chinese have the same blood.
Both are cousins and, cheekily batting an eyelid, he said no one could tell the
future political scenario of China
and Taiwan.

The old guards are gone and the new breed of leaders in Beijing
and Shanghai include those who
studied at American universities with Dr Huang and other Taiwanese
leaders.

But as of now, no one is amused by the growing tension between China
and Taiwan.

They all laughed at me when I told them the policemen
could be working harder now because they were trying to stop Malaysian
motorists from killing themselves during the festive season.

Wake up and stop being politically correct, they retorted when I said these
policemen could have good intentions and were making sure people reach home
safely to meet loved ones during the balik kampung rush.

In short, they are saying these policemen are corrupt and stopping motorists
who are prepared to bribe them. It is an unfair perception but not far off if
many motorists have the same sentiments as my neighbours.

Unfortunately, perception is often more powerful than reality. My neighbours
are generalising and certainly their accusations are unjust to the majority of
policemen who risk their lives daily to keep our streets safe.

But the fact is that many Malaysians believe that corruption is rife in the
police force and it's the reason why the Home Ministry has the highest number of
complaints from the public.

Other government agencies, particularly the local councils, also have the same
image problem. Something must be seriously wrong when the public perceives that
money must exchange hands before applications are approved or expedited.

Worse, we hear members of the public openly telling their friends and family
members – except the Anti-Corruption Agency – how they bribed enforcement
officers and how they sometimes had to carry two wallets, one to show the
mata-mata they only have a few red notes to spare.

If we deny that these corrupt practices do not exist in our daily lives, then
we are fooling ourselves or being plain hypocritical. We are also not heeding
the call of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to tell the
truth.

But Malaysians can rest assured that the new premier is well informed of what
is happening. He has singled out education and corruption as the two most
important issues under his administration – and he needs our support to tackle
them.

No doubt Abdullah will face a lot of obstacles, particularly those cases
involving the politically powerful and influential. He will need time in his
campaign against corruption and excessive expectations. We, too, should be
realistic enough not to expect overnight results.

But change is taking place – and with it comes new hope and fresh ideas.
Besides a new premier, we have a new Inspector-General of Police in Datuk Seri
Bakri Omar, who is regarded as a clean and competent cop.

Bakri's appointment is said to have caused some uneasiness among some quarters
because he does not tolerate corruption and is said to be serious in cleaning
up the force.

The long overdue pay rise for policemen may not necessarily eradicate
corruption, but it will certainly boost their morale and dignity. A comfortable
take-home pay and better perks will help members of the force resist the
temptation of easy money.

Unless we are serious in demanding more transparency from our government
agencies, the cost of doing business in Malaysia
will shoot up because of the need to grease the palms of officials.

Whether it's the purchase of computers for schools, the construction of roads
or any other public projects, Malaysians have a right to demand accountability
because eventually we, as taxpayers, would have to bear the financial
burden.

Investors would also stay away from Malaysia
if they perceive that they have to pay their way through to set up factories
here. We would lose out in terms of competitiveness if such perception
persists.

Corruption is not merely about arresting the takers. The givers are at fault,
too. It takes two hands to clap. Malaysians should not complain about
corruption if they keep on giving.

Recently, Malaysians saw and heard PAS vice-president
Datuk Mustapha Ali on BBC's Hardtalk that the party had never mentioned
anything about an Islamic state and that the term was used by the media to
frighten the non-Muslims.

But last week, party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang unveiled plans for
an orthodox Islamic state with the syariah laws replacing the Federal
Constitution.

The 53-page document, aimed at wooing Muslims, clearly showed that
Western-style democracy had no place in Malaysia
if PAS forms the next Federal Government.

Hadi's commitment to set up an Islamic state seems to contradict what the other
leaders have said, although most non-Muslims have long questioned the sincerity
of PAS.

Like all election manifestos, the Islamic state blueprint is no
different.

It sounds good but voters have to take all these with a pinch of salt.

PAS leaders can be religious people but strip away the flowing robes, turbans
and beards, they are politicians only interested in power.

Promising to protect the cultural and religious rights of non-Muslims in an
Islamic state, PAS has conveniently ignored the controversies the Terengganu
Government had created in infringing on the rights of the Chinese and Indian
communities.

The state government banned the two communities from holding functions which
involve dancing between the sexes.

In the case of the Indians, who celebrate Deepavali, it banned a cultural dance
because it involved female and male performers.

Even more bizarre was the state mullahs' refusal to tolerate social dancing
organised for senior citizens, claiming it was against the interest of the
majority-Muslim population in the state. So much for protecting the rights of
non-Muslims.

In Kelantan, the cultural rights of Malays have been trampled with the PAS
state government defining what is Islamic and not Islamic for the
population.

As a result, the richness of Malay culture such as wayang kulit and mak yong
have suffered greatly as Nik Aziz pursued his Arabic bias.

But more alarming is the PAS assertion, in its Islamic State Blueprint, which
emphasised that to criticise the concept is to criticise the religion.

In other words, to criticise the party and its leaders would be tantamount to
blasphemy and treason.

Using the logic of PAS leaders, how can that be compatible with democracy,
which allows the people to question constitutional laws. There are other areas
of concern, one of them that the Prime Minister must be a Muslim.

We know that in Malaysia, a Muslim Malay will be the chief executive for simple
practical political reasons but this has never been written into the constitution
because our founding fathers and up to the present government respect the
constitutional rights of every Malaysian.

In the case of PAS, it has barred non-Muslims from becoming prime minister. No
one would be surprised if non-Muslims are eventually stopped from becoming
chief minister as well.

After all, it is the policy of PAS not to field non-Muslim candidates. At one
time, the party toyed with the idea of having non-Muslims as associate members
but it was scrapped when the grassroots protested. In fact, the party cannot
even accept women candidates.

Then there is the irony of two sets of laws, one for Muslims and another for
non-Muslims. For argument's sake, what happens if a non-Muslim woman was raped
by a Muslim? The syariah law requires three credible witnesses. Where on earth
can a non-Muslim victim prove her case against a Muslim rapist, who would opt
for syariah laws, unlike the present setup which has sufficient protection for
rape victims, regardless of their faith.

But more than that, PAS' argument that the western model is bad does not hold
water.

The Transparency International 2003 Corruption Perception Index, for example,
did not have a place in the top 25 for any of the OIC member countries.

In fact, more than half, mostly Arab and African countries, are ranked in the
last 21 countries out of 133 countries.

Saudi Arabia,
for example, where elections do not exist, is ranked 46th while Sudan,
which PAS sees as a model, is 106th.

It might interest PAS to know that Indonesia
and Egypt, where
Muslims form the majority, consider themselves secular countries.

Finally, Malaysians still do not know how PAS intends to manage the country's
economic development if it forms the next Federal Government but as of now, the
alarm bells are ringing for non-Muslims.

In what has now been regarded as a preview of his
leadership, Abdullah told his listeners in March that the issues of corruption
and abuse of trust must be effectively addressed if Malaysia
wanted to compete successfully in the future.

Corruption is a key concern as it occurs in the public and private sectors and
is perpetrated by Malaysians of all races, and it is dealt with by enforcement
and effective management.

Corruption, in Pak Lah's words, cannot be dismissed as a problem by saying that
"this is the way things are done" in Malaysia.
The premier also pointed out that in a recent study commissioned by the
Government, 89% of respondents disagreed with using bribes to get things
done.

We all know that Malaysia
has the most stringent anti-corruption laws and codes for corporate governance
but it is useless if the Anti-Corruption Agency has no bite. The people cannot
be faulted if that is their perception of the ACA.

Corruption, in the eyes of ordinary folk, is so entrenched in the system that
the fight against graft could only work if there is strong political
will.

The call by Pak Lah deserves our support. It will not be easy for him but, as
he said, the war against corruption needed the commitment of everyone and a
change of mentality or mindset.

Speaking on "Competing for Tomorrow" to the Oxford
and Cambridge Society of Malaysia at the Sunway Convention Centre, Abdullah
said that "in the public sector, it manifests itself in layers of bureaucracy
that impedes effective delivery; in the private sector, it is evident in low
service levels and the lack of global best practices."

One example Pak Lah has used is that if you operate a hotel in Malaysia,
you need about 64 separate approvals every year from multiple agencies, and
then there is the Land Office which needs six months or more for a simple
approval for the transfer of land. Loan documentation, according to the
premier, takes months while the international benchmarks are measured in
days.

In the IMD World Competitiveness Report 2002, Malaysian was ranked seventh in
the world for infrastructure planning but when it came to bureaucracy hindering
business, Malaysia
fell to 13th spot. When it came to customer satisfaction, Malaysia
was placed 24th.

Under the new leadership, we can expect him to change these man-made rules
which have frustrated so many of us, especially businessmen who have to deal
with the civil service.

To fight corruption, the Government obviously needs to give the ACA more
independence and clout. It does the ACA no good when it is regarded as an
agency that is only capable of catching ikan bilis (small fry).

At dinners hosted by the country's elite and businessmen, one hears allegations
of how greedy some politicians can be. Names are named openly but they remain
unsubstantiated allegations.

While it is difficult to prove these allegations, particularly when many do not
want to lodge reports and cooperate with the authorities for fear of reprisal
to their businesses or political agenda, these culprits remain in their
positions of influence.

Surely the leadership is capable of gathering information from its own sources
in party and government on the reputation of these political figures. Something
is wrong when the public sees politicians and officials living extravagantly,
well beyond their means.

There is a great need for transparency and accountability, especially in the
awarding of government contracts, if the Government is serious about fighting
graft.

That decision would be written in the history books as
Pak Lah's first duty as prime minister, although his actual working day begins
tomorrow. Appropriate to his image as a leader who keeps close contact with
kampung folk, the country's fifth prime minister will visit flood-hit farmers
in his constituency in Penang and in Kedah.

The two states were the worst affected early last month. They lost not only
their homes and livestock but an entire season's planting.

It will be his second visit to these flood-hit areas and, hopefully, the
politicians and hangers-on accompanying him will be as concerned with  the plight of these farmers as he is.

In Kedah, at least 20,000ha of padi fields are estimated to have been damaged
by the floods. On average, 30- to 45-day-old padi seedlings were completely
destroyed.

Last month, The Star reported Abdullah's annoyance when he saw a convoy of 40
cars occupied by politicians and election hopefuls following him when he
visited several flood relief centres in Kepala Batas and Tasik Glugor.

Worse, it was reported that the smartly dressed contingent did not even get out
of their vehicles for fear of wetting their shoes when they realised it would
be a long trip.

He also questioned the progress of the RM350mil flood mitigation programme
along Sungai Muda, initiated under the Eighth Malaysian Plan following
recommendations from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

Abdullah's concern is understandable because the Kedah Drainage and Irrigation
Department had said that flooding caused by the annual spring tide was not
expected to relent until next month. He obviously understands the pulse of the
Malay heartland well, especially in Kedah. Besides the social and economic
cost, there are political consequences if no urgent steps are taken.

Long-term plans have been drawn up, including a RM1.5bil allocation to build 85
flood mitigation projects throughout the country to help padi farmers.

As he spoke to us about the situation, it was clear he wanted us – Kuala
Lumpur-based journalists with no inkling of the impact of the floods – to
understand the predicament of the farmers.

Abdullah's next priority would be to accelerate the nation's pace of
development and keep up the economic growth, which are on the minds of many
people. He would certainly want to channel his energies into attracting foreign
investments and to bolster our economic competitiveness. One of his immediate
foreign stops would be Japan,
a visit scheduled for next month.

As a former foreign minister, Abdullah understands the co-relation between economy
and international ties. He would surely use his diplomatic skills to sharpen
our economic attractiveness to foreign investors.

There are challenges ahead for Abdullah, including gearing up for a general
election and consolidating Umno and Barisan Nasional component parties to
ensure continued political stability.

It is good that senior Umno leaders have pledged their support for him despite
calls from some members for Abdullah to name his deputy immediately. Obviously,
he needs a deputy to help ease the burden of running the country.

But based on previous trends, Abdullah is unlikely to do so over the next few
days or weeks. Previously, when Datuk Musa Hitam quit as Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir
Mohamad's deputy in 1986, Ghafar Baba was only named to fill the post six
months later.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was appointed deputy prime minister only four months
after he won the Umno deputy presidency. In the case of Abdullah, he had to
wait four-and-a-half months before being named to the post following Anwar's
sacking from the party and government.

No doubt there has been speculation but it would only be fair that Abdullah be
allowed to name his deputy in his own time.

While party members may be keen on knowing Abdullah's choice as deputy, the
general public's wish is that he continues to forge national unity, fight
communalism and improve the quality of our civil service.

Among others, they want our civil servants to truly serve them, they want our
policemen to be alert and responsive, and they want corrupt officials,
especially the big fishes, to be brought to book.

Expectations are certainly high for Abdullah but it would mean little if we do
not give him our full support in taking Malaysia
to greater heights.

Mr Prime Minister, we wish you well in making Malaysia
great.

This is where the press photographers will be waiting to
record the smooth leadership transition and where Abdullah will assume his
duties as the country's fifth premier.

Staff of the Prime Minister's Office will line up to extend their wishes to Dr
Mahathir, who clocks out for the last time as prime minister.

From Saturday onwards, Dr Mahathir will be an ordinary Member of Parliament
and, most probably, sit near former MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik
at the Dewan Rakyat. Dr Ling stepped down from his party and government posts
in May.

In the final lap of his leadership, Dr Mahathir was in Timor Leste on a two-day
official visit where was accorded an official welcoming ceremony. Timor Leste
gained independence last year after breaking away from Indonesia.

Its president, Xanana Gusmao, has said that of all the countries in Asia,
the "Malaysian model" of national development and natural resource management
was most suitable to adopt.

Dili – the capital of Timor Leste – has named one of its streets after Dr
Mahathir. This is certainly the first for Dr Mahathir because he has forbidden
any local authority to name a road, building or project after him.

Over the weekend he was in Papua New Guinea
at the invitation of his counterpart, Sir Michael Thomas Somare. It was his
third visit to Papua New Guinea,
which has many Malaysian investors, particularly in logging.

On Wednesday, Dr Mahathir will chair his final Cabinet meeting. Most ministers,
I understand, have decided not to submit any working papers so as not to bog
down the meeting.

They want Dr Mahathir to use the occasion to express his feelings on how the
respective ministers should handle the priorities he would want carried out.
For the more senior ministers like Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Datuk Seri Dr
Lim Keng Yaik, this extraordinary meeting will be an emotional affair.

The following day, Dr Mahathir will speak at the Dewan Rakyat as a premier for
the last time. He will answer questions as well as table the mid-term review of
the Eighth Malaysia Plan.

The same evening, the Umno president will chair a meeting of the party supreme
council at the Putra World Trade Centre before breaking fast with senior Umno
officials.

For a man who has been branded a dictator and a despot for the past weeks by
the western media, he has certainly proved his willingness to give up his post
without being kicked out of office in an election or a revolution.

Dr Mahathir has not held on to office for life, unlike many leaders in the Arab
world who never even held elections. They are spared from any labels by a
hostile press because they act as proxies for the United
States.

The criticism against Dr Mahathir is a dampener as Malaysians prepare to bid
him farewell but he is no stranger to controversy. He is a man who calls a
spade a spade.

In many parts of the western world, the international media has humiliated him
for his purported anti-Semitic remarks. Yet, those of us who read his speech in
full or watched him on television during the opening of the Organisation of
Islamic Conference knew that his speech was directed at Muslims, particularly
the clerics and hardliners.

He lambasted Muslim countries for being backward and for shunning science and
technology. He ridiculed fatalistic Muslims who prepare for the next world but
ignore tomorrow. He castigated "interpreters of Islam who taught that the
acquisition of knowledge by Muslims meant only the study of Islamic
theology."

If anyone who should be upset, it ought to be the majority of Muslims.

We remember he caused an uproar some years back, especially among some PAS
leaders, when he allowed Israeli children to visit Malaysia
to see for themselves what a modern, progressive Muslim nation can be.

Even at home, we know how he has continuously criticised the Malays for
depending on the government and how he reminded non-bumiputras to accept the
benefits of affirmative action, which may seem unfair but has brought overall
political and economic stability to this country.

No one has been spared in his criticism, so there is no reason why the Arabs
and Jews should be spared. No one is a sacred cow and certainly no one is
untouchable as far as Dr Mahathir is concerned. Even the Malay Rulers found
that out.

We know Dr Mahathir enough to understand that when he said Malaysia
was already an Islamic state, the majority of non-Muslims were not alarmed
because under his leadership, our country has been forward-looking and
moderate.

We know that the Chinese and Indian communities do not have to worry about
their cultural dances being banned, unlike PAS which lumps such performances
under its anti-vice drive despite trying to convince us that they will be fair
to the minority races.

Dr Mahathir has brought unprecedented growth to Malaysia
over the past 22 years. He has single-handedly transformed a former British
colony that depended on rubber and tin into one of Asia's
most modern and wealthy countries.

We hold our heads high and proudly tell foreigners that we are Malaysians
because of you, Dr Mahathir. You have been an inspiration to all of us. For
this, we can only say thank you and wish you the very best in your future
endeavours.

Terima kasih, Dr Mahathir.

Not one of these ordinary Malaysians felt that the
tribute being paid to Dr Mahathir could be regarded as idolatry, toadying and
sycophancy, as some politicians have claimed.

Malaysians, regardless of their race and religion, simply want to say thank you
to a man they genuinely believe has contributed greatly to their lives.

Here is a man who has been the catalyst of tremendous changes to Malaysia
over the last 22 years.

While not all the messages were commendable of Dr Mahathir, which is
understandable and accepted in any democratic society, they acknowledged the
economic differences he had brought to this country.

Some clearly did not agree with his politics but they accepted his vision and
boldness. Much more than that, they also said they would miss him. But none
said the tribute was excessive.

I have decided to reproduce extracts of e-mail and letters from readers who
took the trouble to respond.

These Malaysians deserve to be heard by the rest of the nation, especially the
petty politicians.

Reader Mike Lui wrote that Dr Mahathir is more than just a Prime Minister,
describing him as "a father who would spank us when we misbehave, and when he
knew what was better he would not back down."

"Our country still lacks a true democracy but yet we never lacked a leader who
cared," he said, adding that Malaysians could not expect a perfect man.

Dr Mahathir, as Lui aptly pointed out, did not feel the need for popularity in
his leadership and quest to make Malaysia
better, and that the whole nation would miss his leadership.

"We have been lucky to have him. For this is indeed a great man and he has
served the country well," Lui wrote. "His work has made all of us proud as
Malaysians."

Reader Mohamed Ismail said Dr Mahathir had made many unpopular decisions in his
career and had angered him several times, but in the end the Prime Minister was
proven correct.

"He was a man ahead of the times. He was always many steps ahead of us and
often we could not understand that he just wanted the best for us.

"In the end, he was right and for that we must salute him.

"As a human being, he made mistakes but during the 22 years as a leader, his
achievements for Malaysia
certainly outweighed those flaws.

"As a Muslim, he also dared to tell us what was wrong with us," wrote
Mohamed.

Reader Lim Chew Yin admitted that at times she, too, had been angry with Dr
Mahathir, especially during the 1997 financial crisis and his strong criticism
of the West "but he stuck to his guns and we came away with flying
colours."

"I know this sounds clichéd, but I will always admire him and love him. He will
be greatly missed."

Riduan Ismail from Kuala Lumpur
telephoned to say he was upset with the "fault finders" and those with "holier
than thou" attitude who were more concerned with achieving their political
ambitions in the name of religion.

"Dr Mahathir was one man who would never be intimidated by those who want to
chart the course of the nation with their medieval social order.

"As a Muslim, I will remember Dr Mahathir for his guts in voicing the concerns
of moderate Muslims."

Ang Layping, who lives in the United States,
wrote that she was often overseas but had followed the country's development
and Dr Mahathir's leadership closely over the years.

"I personally felt that our country is very lucky to have such a respectful and
courageous leader. I have met him in New York
and I truly wish him well in health and many more years to come.

"Malaysians should be very proud of him; without him, we Malaysians will not be
known to other nations. Almost everyone in the world knows our prime minister.
I sincerely salute you. Thank you, sir."

Couple Anitha and S. Daniel e-mailed me to say that they were "deeply touched
with your kind words and understanding of our prime minister" in the two
previous articles.

"Our Prime Minister told us that we could do anything we want just by believing
in ourselves.

"He has so much confidence in us that we lack in ourselves. Despite the many
critics, he made Malaysia
shine."

From Italy,
reader Lee Sau Kuan wrote that "Dr Mahathir has developed Malaysia
and also made Malaysian well-known. I now live in Italy
but I miss him dearly."

Chee Keong Tan, in his late 20s, wrote: "I am one of the lucky people in the
age whereby we witnessed the tremendous growth of our beloved nation. Looking
around today, the living condition has improved, infrastructures have been
upgraded, we are all – at least the majority – more comfortable now than in the
80s.

"We owe all these to Dr M, a person so close to our hearts that he is like
family, a fatherly figure to all of us.

"I am sure many of us know how much he has sacrificed for the country and the
people, yet we have disappointed him again and again with problems.

"But just like a father, he never gave up on his 'sons and daughters.' Thanks
for not giving up on us, thanks for being a great father to all Malaysians. And
thanks for giving us a future.

"From the bottom of my heart, as well as many of the Malaysians, we will really
miss you and your love to us will never be forgotten. We love you, Dr M!"

Vickenswari Thurairajah wrote to say that she has an 11-year-old daughter and
wants to send a postcard to Dr Mahathir to thank him for what he has done for Malaysia.

Yes, your family can do so by writing to him at the Prime Minister's Office,
Bangunan Perdana Putra, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62502 Putrajaya
or email to ppm@pmo. gov.my.

From Ohio State
University in the United
States, student Johnny Khong, too, said he
wanted to write to Dr Mahathir to express "my deepest appreciation for his
leadership and inspiration during his tenure."

And finally, I even received two responses – from Bosnia
and Ethiopia –
saluting Dr Mahathir. They, too, say they will miss Dr Mahathir as much as all
of us.