Canadian author John Ralston Saul wrote in his book The Unconscious Civilization that: “The most powerful force possessed by the individual citizen is her or his own government..., the individual has no other large organized body that he can call his own.... Government is the only organized mechanism that makes possible that level of shared interest known as the public good. The individual's rights are guaranteed by law only to the extent that they are protected by the citizenry's exercise of their obligation to participate in society. Rights are a protection from society. But only by fulfilling their obligations to society can the individual give meaning to that protection.”

Malaysians have chosen their own government on 8 March 2008. The government structure is not the same like the previous one. BN is still the central government but it no longer has a two-third majority. Five state government fell into the hands of the Opposition and the people believe this is the government they want.

However, the people wonder whether the government would bring them more benefits and realise their promises? Malaysians are worried that not all in the government are sincere in serving the people and the country. Some of them are doing it for their own interests especially recent rumours saying that some are going to switch sides. People are worried for the new regime.

PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that more than five MPs from BN have indicated they will switch parties. People are concerned whether their moves would affect the central regime.

BN almost lost half of its power in Peninsular Malaysia and it has to rely on member parties from East Malaysia to maintain its power. If some parties or MPs from East Malaysia switch sides, BN might lose its central regime.

Many people believe that the MPs from Sabah are the ones likely to switch sides. There are undercurrents in Sabah's as a leader of a BN member party in the state expressed his discontentment as his party was doing well in the elections but did not get more cabinet positions. There is also rumour about Anwar went to Sabah recently to approach MPs there (Anwar denied buying elected representatives, but claimed that some MPs did approached him, intended to cross over to the Opposition). The people will wait and see whether these could overthrow the BN coalition's regime.

It is not difficult to find leap-frog politicians who switched sides for their own interests. Despite some claimed they were doing so for the greater good and parties that accepted them said it has nothing to do money, it is hard to buy such talk.

Regardless of whether they were switching from the ruling party to the Opposition or vice versa, the people see frog politics as cheats and these politicians have indeed disappointed the people's trust. Such representatives will eventually be spurned by the people.

Frog politics means elected representatives make use of voters' support to gain own interests. The government is formed by elected representatives and if it is formed by frog representatives, would they care for the people and work for public interests?

Would the people accept it if BN is overthrown by frog politics? The people are asking for a principled government which is steady and listens to public opinion, instead of a government that bends with the wind and make use of the people's votes.

Both the ruling and opposition parties must accept the choice of the people in the recent general elections. They should not distort or misunderstand public voices and make a wrong decision. Political parties should return the right to the people so that they can decide the future of the country. (By CHONG LIP TECK/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)