IT HAS been a whirlwind September for most Malaysians. We have had three long weekends in a row, celebrated the coronation of our much-beloved King, followed by Malaysia Day and grappling with the haze situation once again, which only going to get worse – according to the experts.

Some months before the last general election, I attended an intimate dialogue organised by a friend who is also a public policy specialist.

If the past couple of weeks are anything to go by, then we have a real reason to worry about the state of our nation.

As I write this column, I am travelling on a train from Paris to Amsterdam. One of the things I enjoy the most in my post-political life is being to travel freely without having to worry about a phone call with a complaint that a house has burnt down or there is a flood somewhere.

I AM often asked why I went into politics.

Many Malaysians, me included, expected a more consultative and cooperative form of government as Pakatan Harapan (Pakatan) dislodged Barisan Nasional (Barisan) – one that would give equal importance to form and substances and exercise its vast powers with restraint and in the best interests of Malaysians.

DESIGNING effective public policies in Malaysia is often a thankless job. I spent 10 years in government, intermittently, and one thing I realised pretty early on is that while a lot of effort is made to craft good public policies, it is almost never appreciated.

Last week, Malaysians were rocked by an interview given by the princess of the Reformasi movement to a Singaporean newspaper.

They say marriages are made in heaven, and that is exactly what PAS and Umno leaders said this week when they “consummated” their cooperation with a formal alliance they termed a “marriage.”

IT promised to be an interesting by-election, and Cameron Highlands did not disappoint.

Bridging the urban-rural divide is no easy task but nevertheless, one that must be carried out.