The recent general elections in Britain should be a lesson learned for our local leaders on how to conduct fair and proper elections with no party crying foul, no biased election commission, no money politics and where the press is free to report without fear and favour.

It is ironic that our former colonial master has an open democratic process where the ruling parties have no qualms about handing over the reins of power if they lose an election fair and square.

Now Pak Lah has admitted his shortcomings after one-and-half years in office during his recent talk at a Harvard luncheon.

I suppose he is facing a Hobson's choice. If he pursues graft allegations against his cabinet members and Barisan Nasional bigwigs, the party will revolt against him and he will become history.

If he keeps quiet on the abuse of power by the high and mighty, he will face the wrath of the public in the coming polls and will most probably be shown the exit. He is thus caught in a Catch-22 situation.

Even Tony Blair, after all he had done to improve the economy of his country, faced a revolt from his fellow Labour party members over the choice of cabinet positions. Is he is a lame duck premier who will be forced to give way to his popular Number Two man, Gordon Brown, before the end of his term?

Our local politicians should take heed of what is happening in developed countries where abuse of power, corruption and abuse of government machinery for elections are not so easily tolerated.

There is a lot of disquiet in this country where prices of goods seem to be rising together with the incidence of abuse of power and corruption. Come the next polls, it wouldn't be a surprise if electorate gave the BN a bloody nose if the solemn promise of our premier to reduce corruption is not kept.

Is anybody up there listening, I wonder?