The rhetoric of the "war against terrorism" is used by Umno-led Barisan Nasional for further repressive internal governing. In less than 48 hours, voters in the Indera Kayangan by-election will get a chance to vote for the candidate of their choice amid a spectacle of stupidity, and violent tactics by the bone-headed supporters of Umno, and equally unprincipled, spineless figures in Barisan Alternatif who resort to defection when things don't go in their favour.

I say we should separate the wheat from the chaff. The struggle for equality and civil liberty is not for the faint-hearted. Resorting to violence, spreading lies and half-baked truths, a last-minute flurry of meetings in Putrajaya to appease the Chinese, are all clearly acts of desperation la 'third world mentality'. Alas, what else is new with Umno and its minions in the BN coalition?

What pains me is that the average Malaysians do not seem to care that their country is a nation of thugs, liars and cheats. Who can blame them when their understanding of history and its sociological beliefs borders on ignorance.

They readily give up their rights for they find it tiresome or are possibly too afraid to fight after seeing what happened to former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other ISA detainees.

The progress of a nation is not measured by how many tolled roads we can build at the expense of the ordinary citizens, or how many F-1 race tracks sadly, a white elephant when not used for most part of the year we can flaunt.

It's a shame that for a nation of just 23 million people and a nation blessed with rich natural resources and billion-dollar revenue from state-owned Petronas (a Fortune 500 company), average Malaysian parents still struggle with overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated school buildings.

After more than 40 years of Umno-led government, average Malaysian students to this day still attend a "two-session" school system that robs them and their family of quality time to focus on after-school activities that are beneficial to both children and parents.

Keadilan president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also MP of Pematang Pauh, voiced this concern in her budget address to parliament not too long ago.

Our youths in institutions of higher learning are treated with contempt. Student politics are considered 'kosher' (lawful) only if it favours Umno and its minions. The fault lies with us; no one, not even the the powers that be have the right to treat us, our children and our youths with contempt without our consent.

Electing career politicans from the corrupt Umno-led coalition is the same as giving them our consent for more of their contempt. As for my humble self, I quote, "... is peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!", the famous words of Patrick Henry, a patriot of the American Revolution.