During the campaign period prior to each general election, voters will be bombarded with all sorts of political propaganda from contending political parties. It is our duty as responsible citizens of this country to bring the subject into its proper focus to enable our fellow citizens to discharge their constitutional duty meaningfully. With major events and technological developments unfolding so rapidly these days, we just cannot afford to make mistakes in casting our votes.

1) We should vote only for the present and future well-being of the people and the country bearing in mind the rapid changes that would be happening within the five years and not for religious or any other sectarian reasons.

2) Today a new world order is emerging. The United States is the only superpower but China and India are emerging as economic powerhouses. There is hope for the dawn of a new economic order in the Mekong basin and beyond. All these developments will certainly make tremendous demands on the leadership of our country, challenging Malaysia as an active and significant member of Asean. Failure to respond could mean that Malaysia misses the boat in a struggle for a sustainable niche in the global community.

3) To enable us to rise to the above challenges our own house must first be in order. We as a nation are still beset with a number of fundamental issues. These need to be addressed realistically if we are to survive and continue to be relevant.

a) The democratic model and processes adopted by our country need to be reviewed. This is to ensure that the country could be led and managed in view of our multiracial environment. We must nurture the so-called fourth generation of Malaysians - one that is proud to identify and die for Malaysia and one that could help Malaysia to thrive and prosper in the emerging globalised world.

b) We need to create an environment where differentiation among the citizens, especially that based on racial origins, is minimised as regards their constitutional rights and privileges. After all, we have to demand the same level of responsibility and loyalty from all citizens.

Special assistance to the economically depressed community regardless of their racial background needs to be given to enable them to compete on an equal opportunity basis. At the same time there must be a clear shift from racial political bargaining to pure meritocracy.

c) The democratic and administrative processes need to be reviewed to ensure compliance to the demand for a higher level of governance, transparency and proper checks and balances. The independence of the judiciary, the Anti-Corruption Agency, the Auditor General, the Election Commission, the army, the police and such other mechanisms of the state need to be reviewed to ensure their effectiveness and transparency.

d) The basic fundamental freedoms of the individual must be restored and defended. These would include the freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of religion, freedom of movement (e.g. including to Sabah and Sarawak) etc. The stature and health of a nation is certainly reflected in the dignity and well-being of the individual citizens.

e) The rights of a citizen among other things should include the right of a child to be given food, healthcare and proper education as well as the right of the aged, the destitute, and the disabled to a decent living and protection.

4) These demands do not necessarily mean that we need to adopt liberal democracy B la the United States or Fabian socialism as in the United Kingdom. For instance, we should never allow the interest of the individual to prevail over that of the community or to allow our citizens to harm themselves either physically or morally, nor should we put the unemployed on the dole.

5) We certainly need to vote for a government that could ensure our survival with prosperity and dignity in the new world order. We need to give them enough majorities in parliament to enable them to address the above challenges but not too much so as to allow them to go on the loose.

6) What about the promise for the heavenly state? The present is the door for the future and the hereafter. Those who have never have any peace and happiness in this world should never hope to be given peace and happiness in the next.