A close colleague who is a former international hockey player and visiting the country to observe the World Cup 2002, told me that Malaysia should book a place in the International Guinness Book of Records for its many billion-ringgit scandals.

Though he lives abroad, he is passionate and familiar with Malaysian politics, having rubbed shoulders with several Malaysian "Yang Berhormats and their children at the University of Buckingham, England.

Each time a scandal rocks and bleeds the country, there is a public outcry with our usually impotent media going to town with "daring leads" followed by "promises and assurances" of action from the 'powers that be'.

My friend observed that Malaysian political history has shown through previous scandals that people who committed, aided, abetted or had knowledge of the heinous crimes were often let off the hook to prevent further embarrassment to the government of the day.

He was referring to the latest of a series of scandals that had hit MAS, our national carrier, which, we were told, had been brought to the attention of the minister of transport and the National Economic Action Council as early as 1999.

MESA president Shaharuddin Abdul Raoh quite rightly said "We cannot understand why it took the government such a long time to realise something was wrong with the manner in which MAS was being managed". But that does not help to clear the government of alleged inaction or cover-up!

One thing is certain though  ventures beside Maskargo.

I really wonder how those visionary pioneers who set up MSA and MAS would feel now that the airline that they had moulded into a respectable international carrier has flown into a cloud of ignominy.

Their sacrifices, sweat and tears smouldering on the heap of debts and disgrace brought on by a select group of individuals who undeservingly inherited the airline and was allowed to command it into its downfall thanks to the politics of patronage practised in Malaysia!

The question is motivational talks about making sacrifices for the airline while their management continue to mismanage it!

I can safely say we do not need "select committees, intensive probes, years of research and investigation to find out the identities of the planners and perpetrators that led to the airlines state of affairs.

They have made the airline and country a laughing stock while the rest of us strive to find respect and a place in the emerging economies of the developing world!

Their actions have brought a big smear on the Barisan Nasional government, and no stone must be left unturned to expose all those who plundered the airline.

The last 20 years, we have seen much progress and development and have been noticed in the international arena. Let us not obliterate all our good work and be remembered instead for the few unresolved billion ringgit scandals that have dogged us during these two decades.

Unless there is a political will to expose those responsible and bring those responsible for plundering the nation to justice without fear or favour, I sincerely believe present and future generations will look with disgust at those who led the nation during this tenure.

This will be a great tragedy.

There is no doubt that in the court of public opinion, we need to see justice being done so we can regain our sense of respect, dignity and honour.

And I am sure, there is still room yet, for several more VIPs at the Sungei Buloh prison!