MCA will soon see the birth of a new leadership line-up come Aug 20. As candidates offering ourselves to serve MCA's highest deliberative body, we must understand the current specific worldview embraced by Umno namely the Islamic Hadhari concept based on the Malays' idiosyncratic historical experience.

The Islamic Hadhari worldview is to address the fundamental questions and needs of the Malay community. MCA, representing the Chinese collective political consciousness in the Barisan Nasional, has accepted this new worldview.

Today our society still remains glued to the mental and emotional predilections of the previous era. We need our new leaders in MCA who are granted dominion of the party to ensure that there is equal and exact justice to all men of whatever state or persuasion - religious or political - in this new millennium. There must be competent administration of our nation's domestic concerns.

We can understand why the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration is looking at the AP (Approved Permit) issue and is currently formulating a new automotive policy. Unless there is proper diffusion of information and arraignment of all abuses, there is no guarantee the new policy will not be misinterpreted and abused.

If we want to ensure that there is continued public faith in our government, then we need to redefine the OSA (Official Secrets Act). We want a transparent government and public servants must be accountable for their decisions.

We want a law that allows access of information so that we can act as the eyes of the nation to prevent abuse of discretionary powers. It is unhealthy to label every subject matter as sensitive.

Comrades, it does not matter who will prevail on Aug 20. I believe people who are knowledgeable should be given an opportunity to serve if their knowledge and expertise can be useful to our party and race.

Support me if you believe an expert in Syariah, Islamic and Constitutional matters can help our race.

The writer is chairman, MCA Putrajaya Division.