Dr Chua Soi Lek may have resigned all his governmental positions but his true legacy, if the Abdullah Badawi administration is serious about fighting for a just society, will survive his political career.

Chua has handled political viciousness with good grace. He was never hysterical and took responsibility for his actions. This is highly commendable and very rare indeed amongst politicians, here or abroad.

Here is a very public performance of accountability. We are all flawed but to own up to one's flaws takes courage. It can only be hoped that Chua's family, particularly his children, can see him not only for his flaws but also for his strength of character and gentlemanly conduct.

To his political enemies, the way the whole ghastly business was executed points to entrapment and their victory is ultimately self-destructive. They destroy themselves in this political assassination. For Chua also has another valuable quality - intelligence and the ability to display it publicly. His stint as health minister demonstrated this quality admirably.

In short, Chua's downfall, so obviously orchestrated by people who felt threatened by his abilities and more crucially, his ability to put things into their proper perspective, is Malaysia's loss.

But even sadder is the fact that Chua's fate is shared by many Malaysians held down by the forces of mediocrity. These people are not worthy of their position, public or private, and spend days crippling their more able colleagues. They may get ahead for now but a worse fate awaits their children and all future generations.

To Chua, welcome back to being a private citizen. I am sure he will not find great difficulty adjusting for he was not too long a minister and can still remember what civilian life is like.