As we bask in the glory of the novelty of the new year, it's best that we look at the bright things in life for this year and forget about the absurdities that littered most parts of last year.
We might even be afflicted with depression if we don't look on the bright side, especially with Covid-19 still marauding.
But, if we were to take stock of ridiculous events or actions, they got worse towards the end of last year, especially when those who were in charge of the country were clueless on how to run it efficiently.
It wasn't a situation of "when the going got tough, the tough got going".
There were no toughs to talk about. Ordinary citizens had come to the forefront to help fellow citizens who were in need of help when parts of the country were submerged under ravaging floodwaters.
It was absurd to hear of an absence in the chain of command, initially. The sheer illogicality that eager personnel from certain government agencies were not able to operate quickly because the very apparatus responsible for coordinating such action wasn't aware what it had to do in the first place was extremely disheartening.
Lives were at stake, yet some of the gainfully employed in these departments were still grappling with bureaucratic wrangles of whether they would be acting inappropriately if they swung into action first.
When it was a matter of rescuing flood victims stranded on rooftops, huddled in immovable vehicles or hanging by a thread near some overflowing rivers, canals or drains, you don't need to have a quorum of committee members to pass a resolution for action, do you?
To put it simply, those responsible were sleeping on the job. There were also other dispiriting moments somewhat akin to "wet blankets" as we attempted to make our country better for all.
They made us wonder what was happening to our beloved nation, once a much-feared "economic tiger" known for its business prowess, efficient administration, fair play and a relatively harmonious society.
Like the time when suspected criminals were able to make quick getaways in broad daylight from detention centres with supposedly very tight security, or when uniformed men in blue turned their stations into partying paradises away from the full glare of the public!
Or when allegations of corruption and adminisrative abuse were taken lightly because they involved people high up in the hierarchy.
We also got worn down by the much-ado-over-nothing issue of product names that seemed to touch on the perceived sensitivities of ethnic and religious orientations, or the extraneous need for additional licensing for age-old business practices.
There was also the outburst of outrageous and callous remarks during life-and-death situations by those in power who we thought could represent us well in Parliament. Last year's list for bigotry and follies could go on and on.
This newspaper was spot-on in a rare editorial that came out on Dec 29 last year, when it said : "It is a sad day when the government is the laughing stock of Malaysian social media. Not because the government doesn't deserve it, but because the people don't deserve the government they've been having these last two weeks.
"The hurt and disappointment was profound not only for those who have genuinely given their support to the government of the day, but also for all Malaysians who love this country and are concerned by its apparent lack of leadership commitment."
The government bungled big time towards the end of last year.
German poet, Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, describes this best: "I hate all bungling as I do sin, but particularly bungling in politics, which leads to the misery and ruin of many thousands and millions of people."
Noted Indian neuro-scientist and author, Abhijit Naskar, had this to say: "Every nation has nuts, just like every nation has heroes. The problem is, we wish someone else to be the hero, so that our sleep is undisturbed!"
That doesn't apply to just one person, but all those responsible for running our country. Therefore, the present leadership has not much time to pick itself up and make quick redemptions.
The people may not be very forgiving this time. The time to act efficiently is now.
The writer is a former Bernama chief executive officer and editor-in-chief
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times