Desperation within the Umno-led BN camp in the Ijok by-election campaign is becoming more and more apparent.

Goodies such as instant roads, project approvals and 'coffee money' to voters and hired campaign workers is done in such haphazard desperation and with such expediency that it is making the voters and the local residents feel funny and strange. Their intelligence seems to be

ridiculed and insulted.

The voters feel that BN is trying to 'pukau' (hypnotise) them with these instant goodies to steal their votes. Many local residents view this as a desperate attempt to trick and intimidate voters to support BN.

Such intimidating tactics are a definite violation of the rules of the democratic electoral process. It seems like the Election Commission itself is also temporarily blinded by BN so that these dirty tactics to rob voters can go without any trouble.

Such tactics are illegal methods to win the election. It goes to prove that BN is losing confidence in its own inherent strength, and now has to stoop so low that it has virtually become a parasite to the government apparatus for its electoral survival.

Such methods are a clear indication of the serious weaknesses within the body politic of BN. The desperation has reached a point where they have become deluded, careless of the rules of a free and fair electoral process and thus making a mockery of democracy.

The nation seems to have lost its political bearings, and with this degrading BN system of winning elections, the progress of the people and country is seriously stifled and in the long run will cause severe damage to the nation.

Hopefully, the Ijok voters have become more enlightened and more aware of these evil tactics of BN, and use their voting rights to thwart the further deterioration of our people-centred democracy. To vote against such a desperate BN will be a great service to Malaysia.