In the aftermath of the electoral rout of the Barisan Nasional parties, many have given their opinions on what went wrong. Many of these opinions are spot on and if the BN government learns from their mistakes they may yet recoup their political fortunes.

What Malaysians must do is not to lose the momentum in fostering political and social change. In the end all positive changes will benefit the people. After all, benevolent governance is about taking care of the welfare of the people without fear or favour. Every Malaysian deserves to have good governance and feel confident they can trust their politicians. There is much the opposition now in five state governments and the BN federal government must do.

First, the country has to return to its roots. The original concept and aims of nationhood in the Merdeka declaration were for a nation for all. It was only after May 13, 1969 and after the overthrow of the country's Merdeka premier, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, that the nation took a turn for the worse.

In the short run, policies benefitted the Malays but after 50 years, we have seen how the rot has set in. There is no role for racial discrimination in nation-building and any policy skewed toward a particular race will surely fail.

The NEP was doomed because if you launch out to help based on race, inevitably other races will fall behind and that was what the Hindraf protests were about. It was hard evidence that the NEP, while making some Malays richer, was impoverishing the Tamils and many non-Malays, who though not so vocal and visible, still live in poverty.

Second the country must adopt a non-discriminatory policy to help the poor and needy. It is only logical that if the Malays bear the brunt of poverty, then they will benefit the most. Where the NEP discriminated against the poor non-Malays, a new inclusive economic plan to aid all Malaysians will achieve a fairer and better outcome.

Third, all public institutions must function independent of the politicians. The judiciary and police especially, must be free from political interference. They too should be subject to checks and balances and parliament ought to play that safeguarding role as much as people-formed groups. Judges and the police must not be seen to be laws unto themselves but must be accountable to the rule of law. The police must be better paid and corruption must be purged from the system.

Fourth, all politicians must undergo a course in basic democracy and understand the importance of their roles in relation to the constitution and public service. The boorish behaviour of some parliamentarians bring shame to the august house with their disrespect for their roles. They must have electoral offices that the public can reach them. Every complaint has to be properly documented and dealt with in due course. The public must begin to get value for the salaries they pay their members of parliament who exist to represent them.

Fifth, all governments both state and federal, should begin programmes to eradicate racism and foster social programmes that bring the different races closer. Those who incite hatred should be dealt with under the law but there should be space for freedom of expression. The aim is to eradicate malicious racial speeches that incite to riot.

Sixth, the civil service, police and armed forces should be built on meritocracy. More competent and capable Malaysians regardless of race should be given the opportunities for advancement so that the best people fill important positions. While we should not emphasise race, the practical reality is that having a composition of races that reflects the country's racial mix will ensure that attitudes, values and ideas will be more representative. There is a legitimate role for race because of the different emphases and viewpoints.

Seventh, there should be greater religious freedom and dialogue in the country. Those who incite religious hatred should be dealt with by the law. It will benefit the country if Malaysians understand one another's different faiths. Malaysians should feel at ease to discuss religion without a Damocles sword of prosecution hanging over their heads.

Eighth, the ISA should be abolished and all prisoners of conscience should be released immediately. If Malaysia is to be a mature nation, it must begin to provide the space for dissenters to express their views provided they do not incite to violence or break the country's laws. The ISA is a political tool and serves no real purpose in national security.

Ninth, in its privatisation efforts, the government should open its privatised companies to all Malaysians. Petronas and all government-owned companies must publish audited accounts and be subject to the Auditor-General's scope of audit. All government institutions belong to all Malaysians and must be accountable to the public. When the shares of these companies are issued they should be made available to all Malaysians and not just to cronies.

Tenth, the government should create unprecedented confidence in the country by dismantling discriminatory policies and regularising the country's laws with international laws on human rights to restore the confidence of all Malaysians at home and abroad that Malaysia is a country for all Malaysians regardless of race as enshrined in the Merdeka declaration and the Malaysian Constitution. It is time for Malaysians to stand alongside one another and not against one another. The politicians can no longer play the race card.

Finally, with all of the above, the country will have no place for the corrupt politicians who think politics guarantees them the right to riches. If every Malaysian will join hands with one another and sincerely seek to purge the nation of all its corrupting influences, there will be hope on the horizon. They have had a taste of what is possible in the 2008 elections. There is more to come.

But the opposition must deliver and avoid committing the sins of the rivals they deposed. If they are found to be no better, than we shall have to raise up others to replace them. Such is the nature of democracy that the good deserve to win and the bad deserve to be voted out.

Malaysians have shown they have come of age and will no longer live with politicians who are arrogant, corrupt and above all careless and renege on their promises.