I refer to Malaysiakini report, Bersih: Probe Ipoh Timur voters transfer . The local poll watchdog body has called for the authorities to investigate the sudden surge of new voters in the DAP stronghold, but this is as usual will not be entertained by the government.

This trick of planting voters has been around for ages and to have fair and free elections where the opposition party's fight on equal ground with their rivals is a pipe dream as practically all the government assets and machineries will be utilised fully by the government in order to win big in any general and by-elections.

The Election Commission which is suppose to be neutral and to ensure that elections are held fairly in this country, is a toothless tiger to fight the dirty tactics of the present regime. Past records had shown that the commission is biased towards the ruling parties while at the same time turn a deaf ears to grouses raised by the oppositions parties on BN's bag of tricks to win votes by giving money and make promises of development if their candidates win in the elections.

'Win by any means' seems to be the mantra of the present regime to remain in office. The present leaders know that voters are angry with rising inflation and endemic corruption, which is turning from bad to worse. Nobody believes what the present leaders say as their deeds doesn't match their words.

Younger and better educated Malaysians prefer to surf the Internet to read the many scandals afflicting our country rather than turning to the mainstream media, which is full of government propaganda and misinformation.

Even with all the hurdles stacked against the opposition parties - to retain their seats and win new one - one suspects the present regime doesn't have the confidence to win big like before and thus they resort to dirty tricks such as planting new voters in opposition areas in order to deny them victory in the next polls.

In order to have a free and fair election, we need polls watchdogs from other countries to monitor any misuse of government machineries and other dirty tricks. But expect the powers-that-be not to accede to outside request to monitor the next general elections.

One can only hope that voters are wise enough to smell a rat in the present regime's attempt to win votes by illegal means. Do vote with your conscience and make right all the wrongs of the present leadership. Failing which, we will slip into the category of failed nations where democracy is only but a name and our younger generations will suffer.