About a year ago, our prime minister launched a five-year campaign aimed at instilling good values among Malaysians. Accordingly, it has been made a national agenda. The PM saw the need to cultivate correct values and culture among the people, values which include transparency, trustworthiness, integrity, fairness, honesty and accountability.

Strangely, the campaign seemed to have been shelved and it has not been heard again after its launching day.

Looking back at the year 2005, it has not been a good year for the name of our nation. There were scandals after scandals, power abuse, treason and shameful incidents which tarnished the name of our nation to a certain degree.

The erosion of good values has resulted in serious social illnesses. Wrongdoers show no sign of regret for their wrongdoings. Pressing issues were converted into other unrelated issues totally unconnected to the original problem.

There were also incidents where dutiful citizens were threatened or sued for revealing wrongful acts. Instead of punishing the wrongdoers, the authority turned around and pointed their finger at the one who boldly revealed the wrongful act. Such tactics have succeeded in helping the wrongdoer to elude accountability. Now it seems to be a culture for wrongdoers to use this tactic to defend one's sin. That's how, in some cases, the prime culprit is not charged, the root cause left untouched.

Regardless of our colours, beliefs and backgrounds, we all know what good values are. They are a set of ethics we all possess in our consciousness. They are a part of us and attached to us since birth. The question is why do people accept negative syndromes as the norm? Is it because we do not have role models that practise good values for us to follow?

We might have the best constitution and laws in the whole wide world. We might have a marvelous vision beating all others. We could brag that we are a model of modern society for many others. But if the nation is full of people (especially the powers-that-be) that do not practise good values, then what we aspire for in mental and spiritual betterment will be in vain.

The need to practise good values should begin now before its last bit within us evaporates into thin air in no time. Only when there is political will to enhance good values can the future of the people and nation look bright.

So let us set good examples for our younger generation by practising good values from the topmost level down.