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Any country which is moving towards a meaningful democracy will have some forms of separation of party political interests from the administration, including the separation of powers, the Legislative, the Executive and the Jucidiary. Without the separation of party politics from the administration, it is difficult for the separation of powers to happen. The Prime Minister must elucidate what he means by the separation of powers and the separation of party from administration because the concept signifies various things to various people. Political power theorists such as

Thomas Hobbes and Karl Marx have their definitions. In 1690 and 1748, Englisman John Locke and Frenchman Baron de Montesquieu respectively came up with their versions of separation of powers.

In the electronics, e's, and knowledge, k's, world, the virtual society is getting increasingly more aware of the urgency for a more open, democratic, transparent, accountable and just governance. The concept of separation of party from administration is closely related to these values.

In many countries such as England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Korea and Singapore, the ruling party leader also leads the administration, party president or secretary-general becoming the country's president or prime minister. The practice will endure.

After getting the mandate from the people, the ruling party or coalition forms the government and runs the administration. This administration is often synonymous with the party. This is where the problem lies. The ruling party takes advantage of the state of relative unawareness of the people. Engaging in the repartee, Mahathir realizes that the people are getting smarter.

For instance, since the Government has abolished local government elections for 30 years, over 150 local councils have to appoint councillors. Because of party political interests, there is often bickering over the appointment of councillors. This affects council meetings. How and why is a person appointed councillor? Why should local councils make their obeisances to component parties of the Barisan Nasional, the ruling National Front? Why should the appointment of councillors be at the expense of the public?

A party in power constitutes an organization with its vested interests. Once it controls the administration, it may be able to do what it likes, reflecting these interests. Governmental measures become the party's measures, regardless of what the public aspire. Once the populace are enlightened, they will demand that administrative measures are independent of these vested interests.

If Mahathir can truly study Malaysian administrative structure and measures as well as the wishes of the people and proceed to eradicate the evil of mixing party political interests with the administration, then Malaysia will move towards a healthier governance.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw