Article by H. S. Tan

Without anger or fear, with composure and calm resolve, let us vote for what we think is best for our country’s future.

In the heat of our current election fever, let us stay cool for a moment.  Consider that the vast majority of Malaysians express love for our country, what does it actually mean to “love” Malaysia?

Loving our nation means not doing or saying things that will cause it any harm.  Loving Malaysia means we do our best to protect it instead.  That should be the love we mean.

Today is a day of resolve for Malaysians.  There will surely be differences in viewpoints.  There will be hard choices made.  There will be some winners, and many losers.  This is the outcome of every heated contest.

But we who love Malaysia must not harm it further.  After the elections, those who won and others who lost must remain cool and civil to each other.  Do not utter words and behave badly so as to hurt the feelings of the people.  In this election, you may have political opponents; but you should not have enemies.  Remember our common love for the nation, hence do no harm to it.

What makes Malaysia tick for 60-odd years after Independence is our ability to live with differences – be they in ethnicity, religion, or politics.  All these issues are deeply personal to most people, but yet, we have been able to prevail as ONE nation.

Whoever wins today’s election – i.e. they who have gained the trust of the people – must also resolve to free our nation from systemic corruption and injustice.  Elected representatives must resolve to serve the people with integrity, and lead the nation honorably.  Leaders need not come up with more crafty slogans to humour our people; what this nation need is righteous action to move it forward.

As Malaysians come out to vote on 9 May, we realise that voting is not just a civic duty, but it is also a moral duty.  Without anger or fear, with composure and calm resolve, let us vote for what we think is best for our country’s future.  Dirgahayu Malaysia.