Abdullah Ahmad Badawi won the election promising to turn Malaysians into a first world society to go with its first world infrastructure. He also promised to get rid of the little Napoleons making life so miserable for the rakyat. Reforms on the perceived shortcomings of his predecessor were also made.

For a while the rakyat was happy thinking the tide has at last changed for a better, kinder future. But oh boy, were we disappointed. While we the rakyat have moved towards becoming more progressive, our leaders are lagging behind. Instead of being leaders, they became recalcitrant and reluctant participants. In fact they need to be dragged into the first world ways by the nose.

While Malaysians in general have been screaming for the repeal of draconian laws, our leaders see it fit to use them more and more. So much so, the laws are now being used for very frivolous reasons.

Soon, we will all be detained under the ISA for own protection. For example, if you are at risk of being victim of a snatch thief, a short stay in Kamunting would be the safest place for you. What with the free food, lodging and 24-hour round the clock security, you would be very safe indeed.

When Ahmad Ismail taunted and threatened that all hell would break lose if the ‘immigrants’ do not know their lower station in the social pecking order, many expected trouble. But nothing came out of it. Even after much provocation about Malay dignity being threatened, the rakyat chose a dignified silence.

In fact what was made abundantly clear by the incident was that Malay dignity was besmirched not by others but by the likes of Ahmad Ismail and his ilk. So the Malays kept their silence and distanced themselves from their theatrics. And so they indirectly repudiated him.

In fact, the silence is a very clear sign that the Malays have moved away from the racial politics of old. They realised their interests are no longer tied invariably to the fate of Umno.

They moved to PAS and Pakatan Rakyat who they feel are equally able to fight for their rights.

They realised the billions poured into the welfare programmes to uplift them economically and socially ended up elsewhere. If anything, it looks like they only got leftovers and crumbs.

When the Bersih and Hindraf rallies were held, the prime minister chose to dismiss them as the work of a vocal minority. He did not realise that they were in fact representative of the silent majority who had in desperation and exasperation become the vocal majority.

Actually, the high turnout at opposition rallies was already a very strong indication of the change in sentiment. And this was made clear in the outcome of the recent general elections. But the prime minister again dismissed reality, saying BN’s poor showing at the general elections was a work of “sabotage”.

Abdullah also lost face in his encounters with the rulers of Perlis, Trengganu and Perak. How can he now salvage his political legacy when he has even been openly defied by his very own little Napoleons in Penang Umno?

If Abdullah wants to redeem his reputation and seize the thunder from Pakatan, he must be bold and do the very thing he loathes to do but which everyone is demanding. And he read Malaysian blogs.

He must repeal the much despised ISA.

Repeal the Printing Presses Act.

Repeal the Official Secrets Act and replace it with the Freedom of Information Act.

Free the ISA detainees and charge them in an open court.

Make the police, judiciary and ACA truly independent and free from political interference.

If he does all this, in one bold stroke, he would have stolen the thunder from Pakatan and endeared himself with the voters. He would be able to stake his claim to be a reformist after all, albeit in his final days.

After all, if Pakatan takes over, they will probably be doing this anyway. It looks inevitable. So why not do it himself and claim all the credit as a forward looking PM? The prime minister must answer this question honestly: does he want to go with a bang or is leave quietly in ignominy? It is his call.