With the upcoming General Elections, everyone’s getting down to do the dirty. You have everyone bashing everyone else.

Truth is, this is what I’ve noticed. The ruling party feels threatened and the opposition parties feel that this is their chance to shine (BERSIH campaigns and HINDRAF rallies up down left and right). So they take turns bashing each other. It really is a case of insecurity.

Truth is, elections aren’t really fair in our country. I hate to compare, but the US for example – you see the Republicans and the Democrats – they get equal airtime! Why the fuck can’t our country do the same?

Power.

Power.

Power.

Remember – absolute power corrupts. It’s what’s going on with the powers that be at the moment.

Do I believe that our country’s elections are fair? OF COURSE NOT. I would be naive to think that.

Let’s omit the count of phantom voters, bribery and gerrymandering.

The opposition parties in our country do not receive as much airtime and coverage as the ruling party. Why? Conglomerates of course. EVERYTHING media-related in this country is also politically-related and truth is, they’d be stupid to give the opposition parties equal airtime to advertise themselves! Why should they? Do the papers publish what’s necessary for the people? Our country’s media does not fulfill it’s main function – to inform. What do they do instead? They deceive. Oh, no… perhaps they don’t lie. But who said omission is not a form of a lie?

So at the end of the day, the people remain ignorant of what the opposition parties can offer them and all we think about when we vote is: “BN said they’ll do this, BN said they’ll do that.” So you vote for BN, even though at the end of the day, what BN says does not always come true.

That’s politics for you I suppose, make empty promises to the people of this country and get power and money in return. I’m not saying that the Opposition parties are any better. DAP has its fair share of internal troubles, PKR is still a relatively new party and therefore evokes its fair share of doubts, PAS is well-known as an extremist Islamic party and the other smaller parties are lesser known even. No one’s perfect.

But what we, as citizens, should do? Don’t say “A has done this for me, B hasn’t. I vote A.” and vice versa. I suppose it’s time we look into the future. What CAN A do for me, that B can’t? What are my priorities while voting? WHAT do I want out of my politicians?

In a way, a constant shift of power with equal numbers of opposition parties in the parliament is a good idea. To keep these power-consumed individuals on their toes. We have not seen what the Opposition parties can do for us and perhaps it’s time to give them a shot. I’m not saying I’m anti-BN. On the contrary really. I only think that they’ve been resting on their laurels for a bit too long, taking things for granted. In the past 5 years, I’ve been aware of one thing – our country’s diminishing global value. Penang has lost its charm due to lousy planning and management. Crime has increased steadily amidst our country’s ever-increasing social problems. Those in the rural areas are still ignored and their priorities not met with. And corruption is still a looming shadow over our country – so dark the shadow is that our judiciary system (from the police to the chief judge) cannot be trusted!

A home is a place you feel safe in.

I don’t feel safe in my own country.

You guys up there with the power, have your power struggles. Bash each other up, down, left and right. But really, who’s suffering at the end of the day?

The people.

You go ahead and be selfish bastards and attach each other.
But you, Opposition and Federal Parties – WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR US!?
Take Nurin and Sharlinie for example… or even that poor Mongolian woman Altantunya who was murdered in cold blood on Malaysian soil.

I don’t care who wins. What I care about is how you treat us. How you, being the people in power, look after us. So far, none of you seem to be doing it right.

When you vote, vote for what you think is best. Who you think will be able to give you the best. Don’t settle for second best just because you think the best is too far to reach.

While the powers that be wields their damned kerises and refuse to be challenged, do your part.
Wield your right to democracy.
Make a stand.

Link: Read this and this and this.