I sincerely commend Kelantan Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Zaid Ibrahim for his candour and integrity by declaring well ahead of time, his intention to contest the Umno vice-presidency at the party's upcoming elections.

His reasoning is a fresh breath of air to the stale excuses offered by others (including senior Umno leaders) that contests will "split the Party ... split the Malays ... disrespect convention etc etc."

Zaid rightly said that there must be a distinction between party posts and government positions.

He is advocating checks and balances within Umno.

This is an issue that concerns all Malaysians, and not just Umno members, as Umno is the de facto ruling party in Malaysia.

I especially endorse his comment that "we are not a communist system where you have to be in a political bureau to serve in the government." He also said that "contests (are) part of democracy"

And by saying, "In the days of (the late prime ministers) Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun ABdul Razak, you get one nomination and you are a candidate." Zaid is pointing out how unfair and restrictive the election rules in Umno now are, being designed to protect the incumbents, especially the president and deputy presidents.

He further said, "Now when you contest, you are seen as taking someone else's position although the people now in power had gone through a contest themselves." It looks like it is the Umno incumbents who are gila kuasa and not Zaid.

If no one protests, this trend of protecting the Umno incumbents will not only spread to other positions in Umno (e.g. the vice-presidency) but to other parties both within the Barisan Nasional and the opposition. This will further erode what little is left of our democratic traditions.

I am sure Umnoleaders prefer to be loved and respected rather than to be feared. Why be afraid of contests if you are a worthy leader? Let the members decide.

Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton came from virtually nowhere to become presidents of the United States.

Now, to me, that's democracy.