Over the Chinese New Year break, I heard stories after stories of people who are fed up and tired of the corruption and bribery that exists in every branch of government that dishes out licences, approvals or permits.

The modus operandi of government servants who behave like little emperors in their offices are to work slowly for those who go through the normal channel and lightning speed for those who have greased their palms.

It is so pervasive, so deeply ingrained that it is actually quite sickening. There is such a feeling of helplessness because you just don't know where to go if you remain honourable and principled and refuse to succumb to the system and culture of bribery.

Yet, I do not blame these government servants - all they ask for is a couple of thousands. As long as the senior government officers and ministers and politically-connected get away with the millions, even billions, and remain scot-free, why should there be any respect for the words of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on clamping down on corruption.

If there is political will, then come clean on Perwaja, MAS, Khazanah, Puas, Gamuda or the new casinos in Pahang and the illegal logging of our protected rainforest. If the PM is serious about corruption then expose the culprits and bring them to justice. Recover the people's money and use it for our police force, teachers, schools, electricity in the rural areas and potable water in our cities. Bring honour and respect back to the police force, the teaching profession, the civil service and the nation as a whole.

The people are tired, for in the last 22 years our ears have only heard the threat of re-colonisation, the perils of the white man and his corrupt morals. Our eyes have only seen the canggih (sophisticated) skyscrapers which mushroom faster than we can make money. Our youth are misplaced; our women are harassed and frightened. Robberies and kidnappings are common in our busiest cities and politicians scatter to cover-up whatever they can. Government newspapers are busy painting the rosiest pictures. In short, all is not well.

So, Mr PM, put your money where your mouth is. Reopen the cases of corruption involving the big guns. If you do it before the elections, maybe I would get off the fence and vote for the BN.