Does the ruling coalition have depth in their representatives and Ministers to lead Malaysia?

Looking at the elected representatives from UMNO in Parliament, other then few Ministers in the Cabinet lineup, it is obvious that the ruling coalition had no depth in terms of quality and professionals. Many of UMNO candidates are former teachers, imams, businessmen or grew within the party set-up.

Without the rationale mindset as a professional and people's representative, this is what can be seen in the Parliament and the issues surrounding the nepotism and croynism overclouding the party. This disease within the party spreads real quick and simply no cure could be found. The equation in UMNO today would always be of power equal economic corruption.

To retain the power control, harping on racial sentiments became the principle of party with "Ketuanan Melayu" and in an effort to swing the support from the religious groups, Islam Hadhari was coined.

In the euphoria and excitement, unwarranted remarks were uttered in the UMNO General Assembly as well as regularly in the press, Parliament, electronic media which many have a racial based theme within. Government policies and conditions which have an air of party based instead of benefitting rakyat which did more damage and did not lend much help in developing the nation. The other "minor" component parties i.e. MCA, MIC, Gerakan were marginalised and the spirit of togetherness since its inception as a coalition became a history.

Till the 12th GE recently, many old guards and good potential candidates for Minister lost which further crippled the ruling coalitions ability to appoint Ministers whom are trustworthy and with high integrity. Any visitors to Parliamentary sitting can't help feeling amused by the antics of Ministers and elected leaders who argue because they must tow the line of the party leadership instead of what action to execute that would be in the best of the nation!

The question today, many of the elected representatives from UMNO and Ministers are also pre-occupied with scandals which further send the integrity index plumetting down. With an ex-Minister and elected hit the headlines with sexual assault recently and an UMNO MPs calling an opposition MP "Beruk" is the unlikely start for the ruling coalition already affected badly with internal rift with UMNO in particular.

Malaysia needs more Ministers and leaders with high integrity and able to lead the country back into the spotlight with the last 4 years being a disaster akin to a train in motion and abruptly stopped in emergency. Eventhough the ruling coalition had some brilliant Oxford trained leaders but they just could not distant themselves from controversies and money politics.

So with such situation, would Malaysia really able to progress pre 2004? It is for us Malaysians to see and pass our verdict in the 13th GE.