Why you Should Vote.

Now this is particularly in reference to Malaysian politics and elections, but really could apply anywhere.

There have been no announcements for elections yet, but I think that the country (or at least some of its citizens) are preparing themselves, mentally and emotionally, for a possible change in the guard–be it a re-election of the incumbent party under new leadership, or *fingerscrossed,maybemaybemaybe* you know, an unexpected but welcome actual change.

So if elections do happen, are YOU going to vote?

Some responses friends have given me, and the answers I’ve given them:

(the classic and cliched): “Why should I bother voting? It’s not like my vote counts anyway.”
Well. A cliched question deserves a cliched answer. Of course your vote counts. Every vote matters. But yeah I know how it feels to sort of feel powerless and insignificant, but really, if everyone felt that way of course nothing would happen. Plus you know BN has all these sneaky underhanded tactics of inventing voters and all… which is why it’s even more important to vote for the opposition who does not and would not use such Evel Knievel tactics anyway. They need our support.

“But why should I vote for KeADILan anyway? Who’s to say that they’re not going to be similarly corrupt? Anwar is also a political animal you know…”
Well, one’s personal feelings about Anwar aside, what’s important at this juncture (because we all know that any Opposition party winning the majority is kind of a longshot) is ensuring that there are more Opposition candidates elected to Parliament so that BN does not just have complete veto power in the government, and can no longer run this country without properly justifying its actions, and without having to work towards an actually transparent government. So I think that other voices in government would definitely be a good thing, and that would then be a decent indicator of the Opposition parties’ policies and practices. Then you can decide if greater PKR/DAP/PAS representation in the government would be a good idea. And of course Anwar’s a politico. He’s a politician. This is politics. Hello. But that doesn’t mean that his party’s ideals aren’t in the right place, and it definitely doesn’t mean that the hundreds of other people within the party aren’t fighting for the hope of a better Malaysia. Don’t let your preconceptions of an individual’s ‘morality’ or past actions (all of which you are only privy to through the lenses of several BN-sponsored news sources–not that I’m saying anything about the trustworthiness of these newspapers, just a fact) preclude the possibility of sincerity of current conviction. And if you think Anwar’s a slimy political animal, what in the world do you think the BN politicians are?

“This country hasn’t done anything for me anyway, I don’t need to vote because I’m never going to live in Malaysia again, and it’s never going to affect me.”
Well, for one thing, it always makes me sad when people don’t want to come home to Malaysia, but I can definitely understand those sentiments–there has definitely been a steady build-up of resentment on the part of many of the fact that the government promotes and executes racialist policies, treating many Malaysians unfairly and in a manner which makes many feel that they are unwanted and/or unappreciated by the government. Well, people, this may be a reason to feel that you might want to leave the country, but this is NOT a reason for you not to vote. By not voting against the government that has caused you to feel such dissatisfaction with living in a racialist (among other things) Malaysia, you’re just contributing to the sick cycle that the country is stuck in. And even though you might currently live somewhere else and have no plans to return, if you can vote, then vote. Because although the outcome of the vote may not directly affect you or your everyday life, it’s going to affect the lives of your friends and family at home, people you love, other Malaysians. Your vote may not count for you, but it’s going to count for them.

“I don’t really know enough about Malaysian politics to be able to make an educated decision.”
Well then… you know what you have to do. Like the intelligent, educated (or not) people that you are, you can research the topic. There are numerous blogs out there on Malaysian politics, the newspapers are always good (although you must always keep in mind that newspapers are paid for by someone), but you should always read with a critical mind and with your own personal filter for what may just be propaganda. Read pro- and anti-government blogs, and make up your mind. If even after you do all sorts of research, you still want to just vote for the incumbent…then, well, at least you will sleep well knowing that you didn’t vote completely blindly.

So, these are several reasons why I think it’s important that you, and I, and him, and her, all vote. The country as a whole may have its low moments occasionally, but hey, it could have great moments too. So let’s work towards that, spread the awareness that years of karangan-writing have told us can be a factor in effecting change, and *hope* and *pray* for a Malaysia that you will love to come home to.