The Regime

I refer to the letter written by NAN, entitled Gov't not showing empathy with common man published by Malaysiakini.com

He reiterated again that the government should empathise with common folk and instead of dismissing their complaints.

The fact that they had to resort to street protests is a reflection that the the government has not provided a response to their complaints and has not provideda forum in which such complaints and grouses can be heard in a civilised manner.

In addition, the public are also not given access to review any of the toll agreements
The writer, NAN has also reiterated that the Government should be more attunedto the public or voters in which they might 'abandon ship'

My response to this is sadly a pessimistic one. The Barisan Nasional Government has turned into a regime, a regime that is unaccountable tothe people.
How would you explain a government that does not give scant regard to the publicwhose main message is simply - rising cost of living and the effect of a one-sided agreement with monopolistic toll concessionaires is unfair to them.

The very nature of a regime is that it does not answer to the public. As it is, the checkand balance system of a democratic society is not applicable here. The Election Commission is not an independent commission, voting fraud are common. Whistle blowers and protesters are beaten and detained without trial just to stifle opposition and to allow the ruling party a free reign - freedom to abuse to ones personal gain.

I am sure the honorouble Works Minister will be returned in his Sungai Siput Parliamentary Constituency come next election. No amout of hue and cry will prevent this, as he has 'means' that bypasses the workings of a democratic society.

Let this humble writer, who is nothing more than an ordinary Malaysian remind him that his is a public office, and he has a duty to respond to the public.

To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, the government should be of the people, for the people and by the people.

Sadly, this is not the case here, not even close.