Yoursay: Don’t let them steal the elections, come back to vote

YOURSAY | ‘People shouldn’t be afraid of the government; the government should be afraid of the people.’

Best not to vote if you can't get leave, Zahid tells M'sians in S'pore

Trueglitter: The ill-advised rhetoric from caretaker DPM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to voters “not to return in the 14th general election (GE14) if they can’t get leave on May 9” speaks volumes of the desperation of Umno-BN government to hang on to power.

Against the constitutional enactment of our nation which provides for the encouragement to all citizens to exercise their rights to vote when required, the insane-like advice from Zahid is a slap to the face of all decent Malaysians as it smacks of his earnest cowardice and unconcealed mischief to deceive the poor and the vulnerable.

Unknown to Zahid, he has in fact wielded a double-edged sword as in his nefarious attempt to discourage outstation voters returning home to exercise their right to vote, he has unwittingly further incensed their desire to punish him and the party by coming home in droves to effect a judicious change of government which the downtrodden rakyat rightly deserved.

It is evident at approach of the impending election, more of such unworthy cum unpalatable antics and utterances from Umno-BN spokespersons will hog the social media headline to spew their misguiding indoctrinations to ensure their personal and party survival in the general election at the dire expense of our nation’s dignity and pride.

Gerard Lourdesamy: The BN must be the only party in the world that discourages its citizens from voting. What sort of democracy is that?

BN can send busloads of voters to different polling stations in every election but overseas and outstation voters are not encouraged to return home to vote. Is this a new tactic of the BN to restrict the franchise?

If it is, it is not only unconstitutional and unlawful but also amounts to cheating. Why is the BN so worried if 500,000 Malaysians in Singapore return home to vote? Since the BN claims that it will win GE14 with a two-thirds majority, why bother with these voters?

Varuna: Both of these two BN leaders seem to express very peculiar opinions about elections and voting. For Zahid to imply that voting is not an unwritten obligation of every citizen is rather bizarre. Where is his sense of propriety with regards to the democratic process?

And for the other YB, caretaker deputy home minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed to cast aspersions on non-resident citizens returning to vote as having an unhealthy influence on the outcome of the election of candidates is an effrontery towards a number of aspects of the democratic proceeds and fundamental rights of citizens.

This is a sad commentary on their national leadership and commitment to free and fair elections.

XED: BN is desperate. What these two politicians have said shows that the BN doesn’t want voters to come back from outstation, from Singapore to cast their votes. The BN’s analysis must have shown that these voters would be far more likely to choose other political parties.

BN wants to rely on its core support from those in the rural areas who have not ventured out in search of a living, in search of education, in search of business opportunities, and in search of greater freedom.

Anonymous: Doesn't this reinforce the perception that the intention of the BN is to make it difficult for the people to exercise their right to vote? Obviously, they feel that the people will vote against them and so BN will benefit if these people do not vote.

How else can you infer when the polling day is mid-week where apart from the inconvenience, the people will need to lose annual leave to do it. The more you try all these underhand tactics, the more the people will rise to the occasion.

Please do not forget that the people are force to work outstation or in neighbouring Singapore because there are inadequate opportunities for them to work locally.

BE Man: Outstation or otherwise, voters have the right to cast their votes for whomever they want. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that they can exercise their right with as little hindrance as possible.

Malaysia4All: I've never heard of a minister anywhere in the world advising citizens not to return home to vote.

Voting is such an integral part and parcel of what a democracy is that by telling people not to vote, you are revealing yourself to be against democracy itself. What a disappointing statement!

6th Generation Immigrant: And after such illogical arguments, apart from diverting blame to Singapore employers, how can anyone, truly anyone at all, expect this man to remain a DPM or even PM, should Najib be incarcerated.

Malaysians must wake up from their 60-year slumber.

Demi Rakyat: So many people trying to encourage and make it possible for those overseas (and locally) to come back and vote and here we have the government saying that it does not encourage them to do so.

Irresponsible statement? It is more than irresponsible. It is downright disloyalty to the country. Totally disgraceful.

Hopeful123: Malaysians working in Singapore, you all make it a point to go back home during Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali, etc, every year. Just sacrifice a little for this election as it is a "now or never" situation which will decide our children's future and all future generations.

A change in government can also mean that your nightmare of having to travel to and from Singapore will be over. You can be sure that either your travelling headaches will be remedied by the new government or salaries in Malaysia may match up to Singapore with a competent government.

The present government has not done anything to make things easier for Malaysians working in Singapore despite the fact that they bring in billions of ringgit a year without the government lifting a finger.

It is such an ungrateful government. Now is your opportunity to do your bit for regime change. Please come back to vote.

Anonymous_ce25f1a2: I am not surprised by Zahid’s comments. He does not respect the sacrifice of our Malaysian workforce in Singapore. They are Malaysia’s true heroes.

Most leave their homes before sunrise and reach their homes after sunset, in order to afford their families a good standard of living, and yet contribute to the economic well-being of Malaysia.

Anonymous #28648954: All overseas Malaysians, please come back and vote. Vote for change. Vote for a better future. Vote to save our country.

There is nothing to be afraid of. People shouldn’t be afraid of the government; the government should be afraid of the people.

Ipoh PP: This is a very irresponsible leader, to encourage Malaysians in Singapore not to come back if they find difficulty in doing so. Malaysians in Singapore should now all the more try every possibility to return.

The BN government fears Malaysians in Singapore coming back, for obvious reasons. So, brothers and sisters, show him that you love this country and will come back to make the difference.

Shark Fins Belong on Sharks: Our caretaker deputy PM need not be overly concerned over Singapore's loss of revenue caused by the feared exodus, not when even Singaporean bus operators are parting the ocean for their Malaysian employees to make it midweek across the Straits.

But the big-heartedness of a man probably merely wants to prevent Bangsa Johor rebels across the Causeway from losing a great-paying job, only to have to return to their homeland to secure another with a China-based company for a third of their previous pay... or not, if they cannot read manuals in Chinese.

Rakyat-Akan-Bangkit-Undi: I borrowed money from my housemate (I didn’t steal) to pay for my bus ticket home to Johor Bharu to vote.

I will be home two days before polling day. See you there, Malaysians! - Mkini