Referring to The Star's article, 'Reflections of Dr M, from Pak Lah to Hadi Awang' dated Oct 31, 2003, I am sad to see that the level of maturity in our current opposition leadership is in such a shameful level.

Let us accept this fact. Malaysia is one of the top 20 trading nations in the world. We have transformed ourselves from a poor agricultural state, to an industrialised state. But yet, none of the opposition leaders are willing to accept the idea that Dr Mahathir has succeeded in his vision for the country.

Taking the label by Lim Kit Siang, the currently non-representing 'politician': "first world infrastructure, third world mentality". This may be true for the majority of the population that are still in the transitional stage - that our mentality might not befit our current infrastructure. But, my question to Kit Siang is: Have you ever come up with solid ideas on how to change the mentality of the people?

Even Dr Mahathir proclaimed that he failed to change the Malays, but at least he and the government tried. Our people are indeed progressing, considering that many people actually write to malaysiakini. On the other hand, our opposition never seems mature enough to propose concrete and feasible plans for the nation.

And yet, every single one of them have tried to condemn government action and policies. Tiny bits and pieces of mistakes were blown up. Frankly, as a eligible voter at the next general election, people don't want to hear politicians squabbling over who is 'kafir' and who isn't.

The blame is not just on the opposition.

In my view, even BN politicians are not mature, in that they are willing to lower themselves to the level of trading insults and petty-accusations with the opposition. I also note that sometimes, the leaders themselves are not ready for mature and civilised democracy.

Take the example of MCA Penang state assembly representatives Lim Boo Chang and Tan Cheng Liang. I think it is absurd that political parties can effectively remove the rights of elected politician from representing the views of their constituency.

However, Malaysians opposition politicians are 'politicians' too. Let me quote a line from PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang: "PAS considers Dr Mahathir's 22-year tenure as very long, one which would surely see the country undergoing great changes. We can assume that in that long time, anyone administering the country would have been capable of implementing development projects."

My simple question is: PAS has been ruling Kelantan state since 1990, and Terengganu since 1999. In the13 years, has there been any significant achievement or development made in Kelantan?

Consider the fact that any one administering for a long period is capable of implementing development projects, what sort of development is PAS aiming for the country?

In between, PAS was crying out loud when the federal government cuts funding to the sekolah agama rakyat, or condemning government policies - even those benign or progressive - I do not really see what authority PAS has in condemning or questioning Dr Mahathir's achievements.