To vote or not to vote, that is the question playing on my mind and the minds of many others whom I know as the election day nears. Our indecisiveness is based on our lack of trust in the 'hands that yield power' and the dismal performance and cocky attitude of some Malaysian politicians.

I realise how valuable each vote is. But as much as my friends and I would like to use this 'freedom' to vote that is provided by virtue of Malaysia being a democratic nation, we may withhold in exercising that right because we can no longer claim to have faith in either the Barisan Nasional or the opposition parties.

One of the de facto reasons is because we have come to realise that at the end of it all, a general election in Malaysia has become an exercise of 'all words and no action'. We see individuals being appointed as state assemblyman or assemblywomen (Adun) or a member of parliament (MP) who go on to provide nothing but lip service to the people, making them politicians who set a fine example of what the Malay proverb says of those who ' makan gaji buta ' (receiving an ill-earned salary).

But then politics is truly a dirty game and very soon, if not already, the mud-slinging of this game will be the talk of the town. I am reluctant to vote because I do not want to see some irresponsible politician being given an important portfolio or a menteri (minister) who is a spoilt-brat that he or she thinks that being a politician is a gift from God. Sitting in the plush seats of their air-conditioned offices and cars, they conveniently overlook their raison d'etre and that which is to serve the people and not to seek VIP treatment any place they go, regardless of whether they are on or off duty.

If marks were to be accorded to our MPs and local Aduns, only a handful or maybe less would get what they deserve, by virtue of the work done. Speaking for the people of Section 14, I say the performance of our previous wakil rakyat leaves much to be desired.

Politics is all about serving the rakyat , the people, but unfortunately once the power play begins, politics becomes a personal issue for some of our politicians to fulfill their personal agendas. No wonder then that so many of the politicians have skeletons in their closet or closets, to put it mildly.

A politician will earn my vote only if he or she is sincerely dedicated in wanting to improve the lives of the people like myself in any which way they can. Make as many visits as you must to your respective constituency to ensure all is well with your people; don't turn up our doorstep only when 'validation' time is nearing. No problem or complaint should be too small or too big for a politician to handle on behalf of the people.

Until and unless a politician's work speaks for itself, many of us out there will not hesitate to withhold our precious votes. It is not the VIP treatment that makes a politician important, rather it is how much they have done for the rakyat that makes them assets to the people.

Help restore our faith in politicians and we will consider help them win our respective votes!