When Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as prime minister in November 2003, he promised to carry out sweeping reforms to rid Malaysia of the excesses perpetrated during the autocratic rule of Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Pak Lah vowed to wipe out rampant corruption and restore democracy and good governance for the people.

Almost four years later, we are convinced that Pak Lah's promised reforms are mere fallacies. Corruption has worsened, crime rates have become unbearable, the economy is stagnant and scandals abound reflecting failures of both political leadership and civil administration.

To make up for this failure of leadership, Umno leaders have resorted to stirring up racial and religious issues to further divide the people, plunging the nation into unprecedented turmoil and disunity. With our house in such disorder, under the unrelenting impact of globalisation, we are already in a state of national regression.

Every Malaysian must wake up to this threat to the nation and realise that it is only through political struggle that we can save our nation from calamity. It is for this reason that I joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

I believe PKR's ideology and programmes are right for this country. Its advocacy to stick steadfastly to the constitution as the rock foundation for furthering our nation-building is the correct approach to overcome the chaotic state created by Umno's abuses and misrule.

Our constitution is the 'social contract' entered into by our founding fathers. By steering our nation in accordance with the egalitarian principles expounded by the constitution, we will surely return to racial and religious harmony, and thereupon with unity of purpose and the country will once again march forward as one nation.

PKR has rightly decided to scrap the much abused NEP for it has been hijacked by the ruling powers to indulge in rampant corruption and cronyism, which is now the main scourge bedeviling the nation.

I believe that through the restoring of social justice and democracy for the entire population regardless of race and religion, the nation will once again find its vitality through a system of governance, cleansed of corruption and discriminations. We will then see greater excellence in education, a higher productivity of our working population, a return of social order and a surge in investor confidence and higher economic activities.

I believe that these ideals are shared by the other opposition parties DAP and PAS, as well as by most NGOs and the civil society at large.

I have full confidence in Anwar Ibrahim leading a concerted effort of the forces sharing these ideals to mount a meaningful challenge to the corrupt and antiquated ruling powers in the coming election. I believe truth and goodness will eventually triumph over deceit and evil in this country.