We should be thankful to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has set a good example by setting a deadline for retirement. There are now already calls for MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik and MIC's S Samy Vellu to go as well.

It is only healthy that our political system renews itself by giving opportunities to younger and newer politicians. It is time now to try out new ideas to find fresh solutions, otherwise old ideas that have failed would just be repeated again and again.

In this respect, I think we must also not forget the other old-timers who have also overstayed. A good example is Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik who has been president of the party since 1980. DAP's life adviser Dr Chen Man Hin who founded the party in 1966 but is still loquacious in the media is another.

We should thank them for their contributions and send them on their way so that the political system in the 21st century is not polluted by noises from the past.

Let the younger generation of Malaysians chart their own future. The old men and women have created history and must now make way and not monopolise the making of the future. They must cease to be megalomaniacs. They must realise they are not demi-gods with immortality.