To vote and to cast the right vote has never been more crucial. Barisan Nasional has, for the past 50 years, led us into messy situations. Malaysia's progress was not the result of BN's clever planning or "intelligent" economic formula.

For all its intents and purposes, policies and actions have so far produced damaging results all around. One may conclude, and I agree, that Mahathir Mohamad was a hardworking leader. He was working hard to plunder public funds and showcase multiple mega-projects that ultimately failed to bring sustainable, cost-effective relief to the people.

Our economy has stayed afloat due to two basic reasons: high returns on export, primarily of natural resources and peoples' resilience in maintaining decent employment and creative commerce. In brief, it was the high revenue collected by the government and human capital that created our present economic sustainability.

It is quite clear that the prices of food, highway tolls and petrol are set to increase after the general election. This translates to further suffering for people who are trying to make ends meet while the ruling elites continue to hijack public resources.

We must now come to a realisation that BN does not have our interests at heart. On the contrary, they have habitually demonstrated disregard to the fact that we are the rightful owners of the country's assets. The irony is that although we have hired them as servants to safeguard our cash and public institutions, our hard-earned money has been plundered, threats are uttered and our constitutional rights trampled upon.

Fellow Malaysians, wake up and smell the rotten roses! Bring forth your survival instincts and God-given courage to push for reforms, sensibly sowing new seeds of unity, prosperity and equality. Our only solution is to vote the opposition - any opposition - to illustrate our dissatisfaction towards BN's nonsensical behaviours. Do yourselves a favour and help prevent this country from going economically and socially bankrupt.

To Abdullah Badawi, enough of sloganeering and globe-trotting! Discard your son-in-law's political maneuvering, which are only good for stage shows. Restructure the entire political system, return independence to public institutions, free the media, disengage religion from state affairs, cultivate far-sighted strategies to help uplift quality of life and security for your people.

If you are still warming up to the uncertainties of being a good leader, look towards the economic ingenuities of Lee Kwan Yew and the compassion of Mahatma Gandhi. Rest assured you will not go wrong. There is no shame in learning from great and proven leaders, but most importantly execute what you have learned!