While I was enjoying a DVD rendition of Keanu Reeves' blockbuster, 'The Matrix', I couldn't help but to draw parallels between 'my' country and the movie itself.

Like Neo, I too was 'asleep' in a perfect country where justice, tolerance, and honour were the founding principles that guided our leaders; a country with an outstanding education and healthcare system; a society that embraces different cultures without prejudice and of course, the second tallest building in the world.

Behold the Malaysian Matrix! An intricate web of deceptions and illusions, masterminded by The Architect, the retired politician formerly known as the Prime Minister.

Leaving for Canada to further my medical training (yes ... Malaysia will experience a brain drain) for me, was analogous to Keanu swallowing the Red Pill. I was awakened, and the truth about Malaysia or at least my perception of it, wasn't too accommodating.

In awe, I actively participated in a diverse society which operated in almost perfect harmony. The maturity, respect and understanding between Canada's citizens was inspiring - it was as if its people were actively practising the values that were preached to us in our Pendidikan Moral textbooks back home.

Without a doubt, Badruddin Amiruldin and Shafie Salleh would have become instant social outcasts in Canadian society for their disturbing comments. What was more alarming, was the fact that their foolish remarks were (sac)religiously accepted by those present at the Umno general assembly.

Why a capable race is adamantly insecure about their disabling special rights is beyond me. It is a common consensus that they would progress more rapidly without these massive government crutches.

I had a good chuckle when I read about Pak Lah's comments in Oxford, regarding Muslim countries and the need for proper economic development. 'Hunger can lead one to all sorts of ideas. It can make them angry and jealous, because they think they have been deprived of opportunities,' he said.

Maybe our premier forgot that Malaysian national economic policies have been depriving non- Malays, who also happen to be Malaysians, of opportunities for years. We may not be hungry for food, but definitely for equality.

I must admit, I have my reservations about Pak Lah. How can I not when S Samy Vellu is still persisting as works minister even after all that has happened recently? If our prime minister is indeed sincere, corrupt ministers would have been the first to taste the wrath of his corruption reforms.

As long as we are human, I believe that corruption will exist in one form or another, but I never had to worry about cracked pillars when driving over Canada's or even Singapore's highways.

It is indeed quite a clever media gimmick to paint Pak Lah as a righteous leader, a leader with a promise of a new hope. This concept however, is recycled albeit improved from the Mahathir era - remember the 'Bersih, Cekap, Amanah' campaign?

With the release of Anwar Ibrahim, the reformasi theme is buzzing again. How much one man can do remains to be seen, but if he were to lead, I would definitely follow. I long for the day when Umno would stand for United Malaysians National Organisation and when all racial biases are condemned.

Mahathir recently correctly predicted that George W Bush would win the US presidential elections because the Americans were 'ignorant'. Even someone with his arrogant persona must realise that it was this same 'ignorance' that kept him and his cronies in power for so long.

Ignorance can truly be bliss, but with an increasing number of 'awakened' Malaysians, this notion should evaporate soon enough. Let us hope it does so before the next general election.