Of Responsibility and Obligation...

"The Constitution of Malaysia requires that a general election must be held at least once every five years. However, the Prime Minister can ask the Yang di-pertuan Agong to dissolve the parliment at any time before this five year period has expired. A general election should be held no later than 3 months after the dissolution of the Parliament."

According to my calculation, the last time Malaysia had it's last election was in 2004. It has been almost four years since the last time the country had it's last election, which was won by the ruling party, which is now the government. Thus according to simple math and the current issues going on the main stream newspapers, it seems like the next general election is just around the corner.

Apparently, time has finally arrived for me to be a responsible citizen of Malaysia which is to cast my vote. That sounds great right? Finally I have my own voice, opinion and right. Well, it's not that great to have the right to vote.

Who should I vote for in the upcoming election since I now have the right to do so? I have no idea. Yeah, the government have done so many things ( good things and not to forget, bad things too) to the country. And the opposition, what have you done to the country? Good question...

Should I give my vote to the ruling party? For me, I never against the government of Malaysia. As long as good things are being done, why should I be mad of the government. But how can't I be mad when there are so many ruling party politicians seem to care about their wallet, projects and power. And in Malaysia, if you critic them out loud, although what you are saying is right, either you go to the ISA and/or you won't have any chance to 'cari makan'. And in Malaysia, the ruling party is 'the government'. Nobody else can be the government. If you support the other party, you have betrayed 'the government' and that is like equivalent of betraying the country.

As a sponsored student, we were told not to be associated to any political party while we were studying here. But let me rephrase it. It is more like not associated to the opposition party, because if I am not mistaken, UMNO is a political party and it seems that there's no action taken to any students who are involve with UMNO.

As for the opposition. I don't see the country would go anywhere with them. Most of them are based with radical ideas, one issue party (which some of them does not even make any sense anymore) and racist too (just like the government)! Political party based on race? For me that is racist. So should I give up my vote to them?

If I don't vote the ruling party, don't ever say that I did not vote for the government. For me, it's really annoying to hear people say you have to vote the ruling party because they are the government. But in election, you are casting your vote for the politician that your are think is right, and the party that is relevant. There's non in the constitution saying that you have to vote for the ruling party and the ruling party will forever be the government. If I decided to vote for the ruling party and they lost the election, isn't it like I've voted for the opposition party, because the government is not the used to be ruling party?

And what is so obvious now days, Malaysia is so divided because of politic. And everything is about politic now in Malaysia. Yeah, it's awesome to see Malaysia people stand up for world issue, protesting on the street. But please, if you would like to protest, in the name of Malaysian people, leave your political flags and banners at home. Malaysian flag is good enough to say you are Malaysian and you don't like what other countries are doing. Rather than supporting you, in the name of Malaysian, I got sick looking at these people, trying to show they care but the fact that all they want to show is that I am brave, my political party is brave, and give me seat because I brought hundreds of party flags and vote for me! Rather than being proud, I got pissed.

Then who should I vote for? I will look into the matter of who are the candidates contesting for the seats in my area. Certainly I won't vote for politician who obviously from other state, or even other area then where I live (what do this person know about the problems and issues in my area, they don't even live here!!! And you want to represent my area? Go balik kampung and represent your area!). And I will look into their agenda, their background and how brilliant the candidate is.

Until then, don't ever say I am not supporting the government. Who ever the government is, I don't care because it's the people who the government should be scared to, not the government that people should be scared off. But I know, in Malaysia, it's a long way before we could ever reach that point.

I will only be loyal to the country of Malaysia and for me, that's good enough.