About a month ago I wrote of my disappointment with the government's ongoing tussle with PAS over the Islamic/non-Islamic status of the country. I said it was more important that the government spent time and the precious little money that we have to look at issues that affect the livelihood of its citizens - safer and cleaner environment, better public transportation, clean tap water, etc.

The recent floods in Kuala Lumpur serves to illustrate my point. And to hear that the government is going to invite Islamic scholars from Egypt (guess who is paying the bill?) to come and verify whether Malaysia is Islamic or not adds weight to my point of misplaced priorities on the part of the government.

When I read about the going-ons in Parliamentary sessions, I wonder what kind of representatives we have in government as well as in the opposition.

Where is the sense that our government is really looking into pressing matters affecting the daily lives of the working masses? It appears that most of the time the MPs are going through the motions.

Recently a newspaper report stated that most MPs were not present during Parliamentary sessions. Where were they? Attending to the plights of the people in their constituencies? Playing golf? In luxurious hotel lobbies, puffing cigars and discussing the next big contract and how much money there is to be made?

You want to ask what the ordinary folks think?

The promises of addressing citizens' woes and bringing improvements by the politicians during election time are but mere talk, nothing else. When I see MPs being chauffered around in their Mercedes with tinted windows and badges attached to the car bumpers, I wonder if they are rushing off to attend to a citizen's plight or to something else which has nothing to do with making life better for those who voted for him.

However, I do want to acknowledge those who are really doing their work and justifying the people's votes for them.

I urge those in government who have made promises to their electorates during election campaigns, but have forgotten those promises, to stop politicking and get to work.