For the record I am agnostic - eight out of 10 people I have met don't understand what it means without looking it up, let alone grasp the concept.

I am of the opinion that whatever religion one professes or whether one talks till their face turns blue about the constitution, Rukun Negara, Penal Code etc, I judge a person by their actions, and if their words don't match their actions, they have no moral standing to talk to others about their lip service values.

I have met some atheists and agnostics who actually live the values they espouse, I have also found some who talk glibly about their religious beliefs but are hypocrites who do not practice what they preach.

The problem is far too many people do not practice the values they espouse beyond lip service, whether they are religious or not. Raja Petra Kamarudin put it very succinctly when he talked about the importance of substance and not form on numerous occasions.

A person, nation or for that matter political party without values and principles will never be respected.

Irregardless of our religious inclinations the values or guiding principles of our country are embodied in the Ruku Negara. In the 70s the Rukun Negara was considered important enough to be printed on the backs of school exercise books for schoolchildren to read.

I remember when I was schooling in 1974, it was compulsory for us to recite the Rukun Negara at school assemblies. Since we are on the topic of Rukun Negara lets take a look at how much the BN government particularly Umno upholds the tenets of Rukun Negara or the Five National Principles.

Belief in God ( Kepercayaan kepada tuhan ):

Corruptly enriching themselves by plundering the nation, lying to their own citizens, incarcerating political opponents, playing up racist and religious rhetoric for political gains, using the mainstream media to play up issues such as hudud and fatwa , clearly scare-mongering for political ends.

Sounds more like a fascist government than one with principles let alone a God-fearing one.

Loyalty to King and country ( Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan negara ):

Amending the constitution to usurp the powers of the monarchy, defying the sultan's selection of menteri besar and in the case of Terengganu, Umno members calling the sultan rude names.

Also, Ignoring the King’s call recently to not exploit racial issues.

The supremacy of the constitution ( Keluhuran perlembagaan ):

Amending the constitution willy-nilly more than 600 times to suit their whims and fancies, subverting the intent and spirit of the federal constitution. The Federal Constitution is a majestic document but sadly this sacrosanct document has been subject to a barrage of amendments because the ruling BN held a two-thirds majority in parliament and could amend it unilaterally.

So much so when you read some parts of the constitution it seems, like a botched job. Many acts were also enacted that go against the spirit as well as the letter of the constitution.

The rule of law ( Kedaulatan undang-undang ):

Selective prosecution and fabricating of evidence, not taking action against Umno-linked cronies.

More interested in breaking up peaceful candlelight vigils than taking decisive action against ‘Mat Rempit’.

Generally selective and biased enforcement of the law. Priorities are also misplaced, for example the town of Klang has 1.4 million inhabitants with a police force of only 700. Unsurprisingly, the crime rate is high.

Yet in the Kuala Terengganu by-elections (population 80,000) miraculously, they are able to marshal police supervision that conservative sources put at above 6,000.

About two months ago, the inspector-general of police declared he will take action against ‘Mat Rempit but instead about reading about police blitzes against these criminals, ironically we read of a policeman beaten up by a group of 10 ‘Mat Rempit’.

Courtesy and morality ( Kesopanan dan kesusilaan ):

When the names Ahmad Ismail, Hamidah Osman, Tajudin Rahman, Khir Toyo, Jamaluddin Jarjis, Ali Rustam, Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Bung Mokhtar, Rahim Thamby Chik and others what comes to mind are ultra-racist remarks, seditious statements and other moral misdeeds.

How then can courtesy and morality (kesopanan dan kesusilaan) even remotely practiced? In fact, many citizens feel that it is a very rare exception for those within the ruling coalition to practice courtesy or morality.

When those entrusted to uphold the sanctity of the law of the land instead subvert it with wanton impunity, ordinary men and women begin to lose faith in the law and criminals are then emboldened to commit crimes as the authorities have lost the moral high ground.

Foreign investors will also shy away if a government treats its own citizens this way. Where is the confidence that their rights as foreign investors will be protected ? There is no need to wonder why rime rates are high and foreign direct investments have been declining.

If the government of the day shows no inclination to correct itself, the citizens must take the responsibility of voting them out of power. We deserve better.