The prime minister's statement that the government will treat NGOs as their partners in developing the country is long overdue and welcome.

Not all NGO leaders are selfish. Many are willing take up the mantle to fight for the groups that they represent. The government should be able to distinguish between constructive criticisms and statements bent on embarrassing the government.

NGOs play an important role in voicing their opinions on what is wrong with the policies of the government and they should be treated with more respect. Their opinions normally mirror what the grassroots are saying. They make good watchdog groups to monitor leaders' misdeeds or abuses of power.

Tiny opposition groups can only make a lot of noise. The government of the day can brush aside their criticism as legislation is bulldozed through parliament owing to the majority of the BN MPs who dare not criticise in case they lose their perks as a result of their vocal stand.

Let us hope that the bad old days when vocal NGOs were hounded like common criminals are gone. Charges were pressed against Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez, who blew the whistle on the abuse of illegal immigrants in detention camps. Mohd Ezam Noor or Lim Guan Eng spent time behind bars because they blew the whistle on abuse of power by the high and mighty.

The government of the day must listen to dissenting voices as they represent the other side of the fence. NGOs speak vocally on issues that affect the common people who have a hard time in eking out a living. These common people comprise a majority but seem to be sidelined when the economic pie of the nation is divided up.

Forget the lessons of the past when leaders preached but did not listen. Let us stop finding scapegoats if mishaps occur. Explanations or apologies must be extended if misdeeds occur. The people have high expectations of their leaders to lead by example.

The prime minister already has road map to lead our nation to new heights. Looking at all the mayhem that has occurred in this region, we should thank our lucky stars that we are still a prosperous and dynamic nation in which people from various races and religions can live in peace and harmony.

The prime minister and his cabinet just need to fine tune government services to be like the private sector's. Deadwood needs to be replaced with new staff in order to provide better government service.

The main grouse of the public - corruption in both the public and private sectors - needs to be addressed urgently. Regardless of rank and creed, the perpetrators should pay for their crimes as a lesson to others.

On that score, the prime minister and his cabinet must learn to earn the trust of the electorate by not indulging in activities which will embarrass the party they represent.

No nation in this world is perfect. Even the only superpower in the world has its flaws as the disgusting pictures of the Iraqi prison have shown. One can only hope and pray that our ISA detainees won't suffer the same fate as their brethren in the Abu Ghraib prison cells.