Whilst leaving the house for work I notice the City Council worker carelessly riding on the pleasures of his cigarette. He should instead be busy at work, cleaning the roads that surround his area of operation. Or is he fantasising about his tea break at 10.00 am and his signing out at noon. So little time to do so much.

Surely this is not democracy!

We are now driving along Jalan Tanjong Bungah...it is like a war zone, dug-up roads, drainage pipes lying idle on the sides of the road…puddles everywhere from last night's rain. And what of the trees that were so ungraciously felled to make way for pipe-laying...what would they have to say?!

Surely this is not democracy!

The once friendly bus shelters have vanished too; now, waiting for the irregular commuter buses has turned into a scorching guessing game. Where will they stop? (if at all!) No replacements, no one to take note ,all left to fate!!

Surely this is not democracy!

Further along, as we approach Bagan Jermal, we are greeted by the familiar traffic crawls, as defined by half- hearted, yet to be completed road works and menacingly dangerous manholes that stare at the driver uncovered and often inadequately marked. What if it rains heavily and the hole is submerged and one fine night someone takes an unwelcome plunge?! What has happened to the obligatory night warning lights. Don't contractors have to adhere to standard regulations? Or has tidakapathy taken over once more?

Surely this is not democracy!

By now the morning showers are well underway and the infamous Green Lane traffic jam is in full view. Why so few traffic cops at the intersections...and none at the crucial MTC roundabout? Have they all gone on sick leave or does one work only when the sun shines?

Surely this is not democracy!

I then spy from the corner of my roving left eye a roadside banner advertising dental health for a government health department. On the same banner, the name of a well-known brand of dental cream. A little bit warped, one would think. What has happened to good old health-related advertising ethics?

Surely this is not democracy!

Nothing surprises me any more in Bolehland...not even the poor English on USM's web page or the inability of so many of our students at our so-called institutions of higher learning to live up to their name (and this holds true for some academics too!).

So much for democracy!

Without holding my breath however, I am still able to smile with contentment at the fact that there are still publications like this one that still carry the flag for democracy.

Surely there is hope for democracy!