Questions voters must ask for the next General Election

Dear people of Malaysia, I know most of us are tired of the country's politics. The flame of 2008 which almost ousted Barisan Nasional is pretty much alive, but the reality has finally hit upon us – will the country be better if we oust BN and replace it with Pakatan Rakyat?

No doubt, that is a dilemma we are facing now.

In 2008, we did not really bother who the candidate was, as long as the candidate was not from Barisan Nasional or more so from UMNO. We voted without taking into consideration the consequences, we just wanted to free ourselves from BN's iron grip.

But today, deep in our heart, we know that the 13th General Election will be different, because the people who we voted for have an effect on our lives.

Can we still vote 'blindly' like before? Who is the lesser evil now? Do they seem the same? The angel we had hoped for has turned out to be not quite the angel we expected.

How about the devils? Have they been tamed? Or have they become worse than pre-2008? Can we still vote blindly this time around? Would we put people like Zulkifli Noordin, Zahrain and Hee Yit Foong back to where they are today?

It is no longer the concept “anyone but UMNO”, it must be people in whom we have confidence, no matter which party they represent. It must be those who put us as priority, not the party or coalition.

Blame no one

Has PR wasted three years, while BN has squandered the same during this period, only to show us that they would continue treating us like slime balls, which can be bought anytime, just like in all the past elections. Well, blame no one, for some among us do really act like slime balls.

As of now, both sides do not have the real momentum – PR lost it, but BN has yet to recover it, thanks to a series of ill advices and ass-polishing to gain their leaders’ trust.

But what about us? The country is about us, it is not about PR and BN. We are to call the shots. Who are BN and PR to tell us what we should or should not do? Aren't we their bosses, telling them what we want?

We are not living in a perfect world. Every thing is somehow imperfect and we need to live with it. Between PR and BN, we have to choose. Even for those who are not voting, they have actually made their choice clear, we follow the majority who voted.

Ultimately, someone will have rule Malaysia. If it’s not BN, then it is PR with candidates from the newly formed MCLM.

Questions to ask

I have made a list of questions for us to consider and hopefully it will help us to solve our confusion on who to choose in the next general election.

1. How clean are PR’s state governments?

Points to consider before answering:
a. The independence of MACC.
b. Teoh Beng Hock’s open verdict.
c. Any PR official being found guilty to date.
d. The fate of Ronnie Liu’s aide charged in court.

2. Did BN behave better with a stronger opposition in Parliament?

Points to consider before answering:
a. The suspension of four Members of Parliament including Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.
b. 2011 Budget and Warisan Merdeka.
c. Racist tone pre- and post-2008.
d. Leakages due to corruption, negligence and wastages
e. Did BN-led states improve with competition from PR states?

3. Which is more important – eliminate corruption and ensure transparency in government to avoid wastages through genuine reforms first, or forget those and just aim to achieve a high income nation?

Points to consider:
a. Did Wawasan 2020 bring us anywhere?
b. Can BN be trusted to make the country a 'high income' nation with debts now hovering over 50% of GDP?
c. Pakatan 100-day reforms pledge – if implemented, will the country advance faster compared to BN’s administration?
d. Which side has more quality, dependable and trustworthy leaders to rule the country?

4. Which side do you dare to criticise openly (through writing and speech) without fear of being arrested?

Points to consider:
a. Who listens more?
b. Which ‘motto’ or ‘struggle’ puts us as their priority? Ketuanan Rakyat or 1Malaysia embedded with the Ketuanan Melayu theme?

5. PAS or UMNO?

Points to consider:
a. How clean is the PAS Kelantan state government in the last 20 years?
b. Islam brought by PAS versus Islam ala-UMNO.
c. Which party is more open and tolerant towards criticism and comments?
d. Which party can self-regulate to solve internal problems and public perception?
e. Which party can organise a seminar which even allows outsiders to criticise its own president for the good of the party?
f. Compare what the leaders in PAS and UMNO fear most in carrying out their duties?

I think this is getting too long – I shall get back to this subject before the next general election takes place.

Remember, the next general election is not only about what is best for us; it is also about the next generation and beyond.

A right choice would help to significantly shorten the country’s path towards becoming a developed nation. Any wrong choice will derail the plan for decades. Be forewarned.

- Harakahdaily