Some have asked where Malaysia is heading. What is the next best thing after the palm oil and electronic industry? Where can a 93-year-old leader lead us?

I recently read a letter demanding that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government “do this and that” if it comes to power. Sometimes, I think that this is wishful thinking.

I have fewer expectations of the government nowadays. Why ask big questions and have grand designs for Malaysia? Just give us back the “decent” Malaysia that we used to have – that would be more than enough.

Give us back the religious harmony and tolerance we used to have. We were never domineering over others. Instead, we were always respectful of each other. When did bigotry and the “holier than thou” mentality seep into contemporary Malaysia, and who was responsible?

Give us back our slower pace and less hectic way of life. We could have kept this country pristine, but we chose haphazard developments instead. Just look at the uncontrolled population and immigration growth. Just look at the degradation of our environment and the assault on our water catchment areas.

What is the point of higher growth and bigger GDP when these are shared with ever more people? Is it any wonder why the more we grow, the more the people are faced with stressful living?

We survived with no BR1M in the past. Now we need GST to pay for BR1M. Let’s do a simple calculation: if a low-income family spends RM3,000 a month or RM36,000 a year, a 6% GST will cost RM2,160 which is much more than the BR1M the family receives. Is the government doing more work or causing more havoc for the people?

Give us back the smaller, leaner and more decent government. I am not saying the government was perfect in the past but surely the baloney being perpetrated was not as pervasive as today.

Spare us the grandeurs of “vision” or “transformation”. Just provide us with a system of governance that minimises corruption, malfeasance and nonsense. Malaysians are entrepreneurial and smart enough to find their own path to better living.

Return to us the unity and the “Malaysianness” we cherished. We do not need constant reminders or indoctrination on race, religion and region.

Malaysians are reasonable people. We know who needs extra help. We know, too, when abuse, wanton greed and corruption are disguised as “help” for the poor and the marginalised.

Seriously, the government (it does not matter whether BN or PH) must go back to its core business by spending less, taxing less, distorting less and causing less booboos.

TK Chua is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.