It is a sad reality of life that in most developed countries, politicians rank no higher than used-car salesmen in the credibility stakes. This is why politicians of all persuasions are constantly pursued, hounded, exposed and vilified by the media, the public and other politicians for the slightest whiff or insinuation of corruption, nepotism, cronyism or scandal. This is what true democracy demands and gets.

Admittedly, in the current Abdullah Incorporated’s Bolehland, the media is nothing but the lapdog of those in power. The only way to counter this and the other judicial and political roadblocks, hoops and hurdles imposed by the direct beneficiaries in Umno is to ensure that Bolehland has a strong opposition at all times. The effectively legal measures that all disgruntled and oppressed Bolehlanders can take at the next polls are as follows:

- Do not protest by refusing to vote. This lends legitimacy to what is happening under the Umno government. You end up cutting your own throat.

- Ensure that you, your family, friends and relatives are all registered to vote and that you do vote.

- Take the trouble to coax and convince unregistered voters (there are millions of them apparently) that it is in their interest and that of their children’s children that they cast their vote.

- Provide assistance if possible to those experiencing difficulties in getting to the ballot box on polling day.

- Vote for the opposition, any opposition. This mainly means not voting for Umno, no MCA, no MIC.

- Realistically, we have no choice but to nominate the new Anwar Ibrahim as our opposition leader. In the eyes of the world, he is currently the only credible Malaysian politician and can attract the attention of the international media.

- If need be, non-Muslims should vote for PAS rather than any other BN party because their God does not appear to reside in Putrajaya.

- Getting more opposition members into parliament can only be a win-win situation as it effectively means there will be less nauseating sycophantic Umno lapdogs on the political landscape.

It is time to stop the rot and ensure that Malaysia is not a ‘Sendirian Berhad’ to be misused and abused by those in power.