Looking forward to GE13

Today is 1 January 2013, a day the world welcomes the new year. For Malaysians, the new year is full of challenges and it can also be said to be a year to decide the country's fortune and future in the next five years. It is because Malaysians will usher in their long-awaited 13th general election this year and make a historical decision between the BN that advocates reforms and the Pakatan Rakyat that calls for changes.

The date of the general election remains a mystery. Although Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak holds the initiative, there are not many options left. It is because according to the Federal Constitution, if the Prime Minister does not dissolve the Parliament by the deadline, the Parliament will be automatically dissolved on 29 April and the polling day must be held within 60 days, namely by 27 June 2013.

Regardless of when would be the big day, it is an immense task for voters, as their votes will determine the country's direction of democratic progress. Whether it will move towards recession or prosperity and whether it will rise or sink, it all depends on their votes.

It can be predicted that in the next few months, the political game between the BN and the Pakatan Rakyat will reach another peak. Most importantly, however, amidst the political activities, war of words, discourses advocating reforms and changes and passionate joy or indignation of confrontation, could you escape from political party's thinking?

Could you distinguish between the rights and wrongs? Could you find the answer and hope for the country's political future?

Election campaigns and canvasses are inseparable from confrontation and sensational words and acts. Particularly in the Internet age, true and false information can be spread nationwide at fingertips through Twitter, Facebook and other new media. There is no longer barriers or control over election topic. However, it has also intensified their sense of friends or foes and resulted in irrational wars of words. Although they have successfully sizzled the election topic, the society has also been torn apart at the same time, intensifying the polarisation.

We hope that the upcoming general election would not be a dirty political game that expands the lack of understanding into misunderstanding and eventually evolves into a fight. Instead, we are looking forward to an election in which candidates focus on real issues, and propose new visions through calm and rational debates, as well as toleration and persuasion, so that voters can think comprehensively and make comparison and at the same time, are able to see the country's future vision, direction and strength.

In fact, although the date has not been determined, most voters have made their decisions. The BN and the Pakatan Rakyat can now fight only for the support of the so-called swing voters. Some people estimated that they accounted for 20% of the total voters. In a close battle, they are undoubtedly the crucial minority. From such a point of view, shouldn't the BN and the Pakatan Rakyat move closer to the middle, abandon sensational shows, bid farewell to provocative language and give us an upright and fair election, so that we can choose from the two good apples instead of tearfully cast our votes?

-Sin Chew Daily