An open letter to all Malaysians: Enough of lies and promises

I am a tired Malaysian.
I'm tired of all the lies.
I am tired of being bombarded by messages meant to confuse, misguide and lead me where the government wants us to go.

Here's the truth.

No one party has all the answers.

Not Barisan Nasional,

not Pakatan Rakyat,

not MCLM, Third Force or whatever they choose to call themselves, or even barbers and taxi drivers.

You see us as cows and you the cow herders call us, not by name,

you definitely don't know our names.

But by demographics, group, age, economic status and worst of all, race.

You take aim at the vulnerable.

You tell the elderly that the other party will steal your security, but make them stand in

lines at the public hospitals.

The elderly cry "my pension" and you promise, "We'll fix it."

The only thing you need to fix are the broken promises you've all made before.

You create fear-filled television messages, with ominous looking images of angry people picked by you because they have no jobs, while you recite facts twisted to fit your view.

In truth they are snippets of reality, incomplete sound bites and images of your opponent looking their worst.

You wave flags and gather your family for a portrait, shake hands with our military,
nod your head in agreement with union leaders,
stand near an Orang Asli whose very livelihood is being plowed under by over-regulation and huge corporate control and we become numb to the relentless pounding of the distant drums of doom.

The past 30 years has been called the "dumbing down of Malaysia."

You talk about securing our borders and strengthening our defence with pointless purchases of war machines.

All of this while you fight on the floor of Parliament, in the halls of the state assemblies and the corrupt chambers of local government over nothing more than the betterment,
not of the people you serve,
but your party's agenda and control.

No one individual can solve all of Malaysia's problems.

Not the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Not Anwar Ibrahim.

And not political celebrities or on air personalities.
We all must work together or together we continue failing as a nation.

Malaysia was established as "We the Rakyat."

That means that WE control this country.

That is, my friends, a huge responsibility.

It should not be taken lightly.

How do we do it?

By vote.

That vote is the most powerful weapon on earth and it is placed in the hands of every adult.

It can be used as a weapon to destroy or a tool to build up.

Don't vote against something, vote for what you know to be the truth.

Vote for someone who will SERVE YOU and your area, not someone who expects to be served.

I can see that there are still a few good Wakil Rakyat, even on both sides of the great divide.

The difference is, a vote is like using a Senapang Gajah to shoot at a small animal.

When you try to single out one thing you hit it all, taking down the good with the bad.

Before you vote, research, read, talk it over with friends, family, check the facts, recheck the facts and yes, pray.

We can still pray in Malaysia, whatever your religion is.

Voting demands participation.

Being a Malaysian is more than holding a blue IC as proof.

If you are above 21, register as a voter and find out about the candidates.

It is holding on when things get tough, holding out when others give in, and holding to this simple truth, that "All humans are created equal by God", even when some people claim their religion is better than others.

When you CROSS that box, you are declaring, "I've done my job. I've taken responsibility,

I've made an educated decision based on my own research,

I've voiced my opinion and I declare myself one of the proud members of "We the Rakyat of Malaysia".

Don't be led by the cow herders any more.

Vote smart for the good of all, not for the betterment of a few.

Happy New Year to all Malaysians, regardless of your background.