GE13

The 13th General Election (GE13). A big hoo-ha in Malaysia. We even gained international publicity for crying out loud. It's a known fact that corruption is rampant in this year's election, flip through any international newspaper and you'll be bound to read about it. Take CNN as an example    http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/02/world/asia/malaysia-election-preview/index.html?sr=sharebar_twitter. What angers me most is the fact that this is happening under broad daylight and nothing has been done about it. Correct me if I'm wrong but I haven't read of a solution regarding the vote-buying in Malaysia thus far. Chartered flights from East Malaysia? How subtle is that? The Election Commission has failed the Rakyat on this. 

Next you give identification cards (IC) to illegal immigrants for your own selfish gains. You are willing to give everything at any cost to uphold your position, but at whose expense? I've read about cases where locals have yet to receive their ICs. Their children are not able to attend school because they do not have proper identification. But here you are, handing ICs out ever-so-effortlessly without (I believe) the proper procedures. 

So you win (albeit unfairly), and then what? Now that these people are citizens of Malaysia, you are obliged to protect them and care for them, like how any country would for her people. Are you able to put a roof over their heads and give their children and their children's children an education? My heart goes out to these people whose votes you bought with money. They become the subjects of ridicule and people lash out their dissatisfaction towards a certain local party at them (I do not in any way condone this). 

OK, maybe they accepted the bribe against their better judgement but if you put yourself in their shoes, wouldn't you do the same? I'm talking about people who are not very educated and in need of money. It's disheartening to see the insults and remarks hurled at them. Is this the Malaysian hospitality that you promote? It was wrong in the very first place to obtain votes by unlawful means, but you turned a deaf ear to the pleas of the Rakyat (during the Bersih 3.0 rally- duduk bantah). You therefore sparked hatred among the people. Why can't you see the larger picture?

And it all comes down to love. Do you love your people enough to sacrifice (your seat)? At this moment, I doubt that. But it's not even about sacrificing, it's about democracy- the Rakyat's choice. And we, the Rakyat, are deprived of this.

So in the midst of a heated election season, please let's not forget to show some love to those around you. 

On a lighter note...