No, we don't have to tolerate ‘lesser evils’

On the principle of anti-racism alone, Bersatu is worth rejecting a thousand times over. There is great difference between "acknowledging one's race and ethnicity" and racism, which refers to systematic discrimination based on race.

For six decades, the persistence of the divide-and-conquer rule from our colonial days has done enough damage to our multi-racial society. And for as long as I can remember, one of the most important reforms needed in this country is with regards to the systemic unjust discrimination based on race.

I had a disagreement with the state assemblyperson for Seberang Jaya, Afif Bahardin, recently over my rejection of Bersatu because of their Malay-only membership.

Afif Bahardin is someone whose politics I had come to know since my student activism days, before he won a place in public office in Penang. He used to espouse anti-racist principles clearly. That was the reason I was a supporter of the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat then. This also happens to be the same reason why I would never support race-based parties like Umno, MCA and MIC.

Afif defended Bersatu's membership policy when I observed that Bersatu is indeed a racist party, asking me if it was racistto acknowledge one’s own ethnicity.

I was shocked by that reply, because I did not see that coming from someone I've known to be against racism for all the years that I've known him. I congratulated him heavily when he won the state assembly seat in Seberang Jaya on May 5, 2013. Today, his changed stance on the principle of anti-racism deserves my changing support for him as a politician.

Because, for Afif to attempt doublespeak, to say that a racist party like Bersatu is not racist, is legitimately disappointing, if not downright infuriating. Bersatu's so-called "affiliate members" do not even have the right to vote on any bills within their own party. Not only is that discriminatory, that is most certainly undemocratic.

Do not for a second think that I have anything against Afif as a person. I am simply holding him, and other politicians, accountable for the promises they made before they decided to throw them aside just to win the 14th general election.

Relevance of #UndiRosak

By extension, this makes #UndiRosak relevant, as they become the check and balance against politicians. When the politicians you used to support based on certain policies now go back on their word, the rakyat have every right to withdraw that previous support.

Since people like me have never been a supporter of Umno (and by extension, BN) anyway, there really is no alternative for me if I had to choose between BN and Harapan for this general election. Hence, #UndiRosak becomes a real option for me because I actually do care.

There is a significant misconception about #UndiRosak supporters that they are politically lethargic, politically nihilistic, politically immature, politically idiotic - you name it.

But beyond all this name-calling, the same #UndiRosak supporters have always been the ones that volunteered countless hours and energy for the opposition in the past two general elections.

The same #UndiRosak supporters have been the third force to keep educating the public about the real meaning of democracy, defending that democracy even, which includes the right to not vote for politicians who do not deserve the vote, regardless of political party.

The same #UndiRosak supporters have been the ones calling out tyranny on both sides, BN and Harapan, because we really do deserve a meaningful change in our democracy.

As a voter, I refuse to just become another meaningless statistic. I want my vote to actually count for something, to actually count for changes I care about - not a superficial change of government with the same political values.

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MARYAM LEE is a writer with a chronic tendency to get into trouble. What she lacks in spelling when writing in English is made up for with her many writings in Bahasa Malaysia. She believes in conversations as the most valuable yet underrated cause of social change. She wants people to recognise silences and give them a voice, as she tries to bring people together through words. -Mkini