There is no point in voting good BN candidates (if there is such a thing). You will see that there are good BN MPs/representatives in Umno/MCA/MIC etc. Politicians with a bit of spine and some principles. But what's the point of voting them in when they are overpowered by the hooligans within their parties?

Good people join BN to change and improve the system from within. They stand up for the people but are shot down by the party and system. Why waste your votes on them then if they are powerless? Judge for yourselves from these quotable quotes and actions by our erstwhile MPs:

S Sothinathan, (MIC - Telok Kemang), was suspended from his deputy minister's position in 2006 for criticising government policy on the recognition of foreign medical degrees. He felt that many of the students at the Crimea State Medical University (CSMU) in Ukraine, which would be de-recognised, were Indians and because of this, being a BN component party, the MIC was duty- bound to protect their interest.

Loh Seng Kok, (MCA-Kelana Jaya), complained in Parliament about 'imbalanced' history textbooks, new prayer recital guidelines and the problems faced by non-Muslims with regards to places of worship. Six days later, some 50 Umno Youth members, led by Kelana Jaya division chief Abdul Halim Samad, paid him a visit late at night to deliver a ‘warning letter’.

Shahrir Samad, Umno's conscience, supported an opposition motion (to censure the ‘close one eye’ Jasin MP). He also did not receive any support from his fellow government backbenchers to condemn the corruption within his own party.

Tan Cheng Liang (Jawi) and Lim Boo Chang (Datuk Keramat), two BN state assemblymen in Penang abstained from voting on the Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) project in 2002. The controversial Porr was proposed by the BN government and vehemently opposed by the opposition. Both were subject to ‘disciplinary action’ for not supporting the government, even though they thought that the project would not best serve the interests of Penang.

K Devamany (MIC - Cameron Highlands) said the fact that 50,000 people showed up at the Nov 25, 2007 Hindraf rally showed the government's failure in distributing the nation’s wealth equally. In trying to highlight the seriousness of this issue, he was strongly condemned by his BN colleagues.

Zaid Ibrahim, another of Umno's conscience, has been dropped from this election. This former Kota Baru MP was one of the first Umno politicians to publicly demand the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry into the Lingam tape. This same man has been very public and vocal about the rotting state of the judiciary and rule of law.

Zaid also led a campaign to re-elect Shahrir Samad, fellow Umno conscience, as the backbencher's club chairperson after the ‘close one eye’ MP incident. He didn't succeed.

These BN politicians were fighting for the people but they are being defeated by their own party. If they can't criticise the government, they can't stand up for you. Please read about Chief Whip here .

Meanwhile, the spineless:

Shahrizat Jalil (Umno - Lembah Pantai) Women, Family and Community Development Minister, on the passing of the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) (Amendment) Bill 2005 which undermines the status of Muslim women and the family institution, said this first: ‘The uproar over this issue is symptomatic of the real problems affecting Muslim women in the country. Let this be a lesson to all concerned to not trivialise issues involving the rights of women. (Dec 23, 2005)

She then went on to say that her ministry had earlier objected to almost all the clauses of the Bill, which discriminated against women (Dec 25, 2005). She later went on to vote to support the bill.

And some quotes by BN and non-BN politicians. They are self-explanatory:

‘Umno has now become completely paralysed." - Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

‘... it's an opposition motion and we usually reject their motions.’ - Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz, The Star , May 5, 2006.

‘Our principle is that BN Backbenchers Club (BBC) will not support the opposition.’ - BNBBC Deputy Chairman Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar, Bernama. May 5, 2006

‘Based on our policy and practice, the BN elected representatives cannot support a motion tabled by the opposition ... under whatever circumstances, they should not have supported a motion from the opposition.’ - Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also BN Chief Whip, The Sun , May 2006.

He (Sothinathan) is a member of the front bench and should not have taken a stand like what he did, criticising his own government... [this] is certainly a breach of party discipline.’ - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, The Star, June 23, 2005

‘What happened is unprecedented but he is at fault. That is why action has to be taken against him.’ - Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz, The Star , June 23, 2005

‘He broke ranks. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.’ - Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz, The Star, June 23, 2005

‘The action against Tan Cheng Liang (Jawi) and Lim Boo Chang (Datuk Keramat) was good enough to serve as a reminder to the rest of the backbenchers.’ - BN Secretary-General, Mohamed Rahmat, Jan 6, 2003

‘We are of the view that the final decision on this issue should be made by Barisan. But as far as Umno is concerned, we want them (Tan and Lim) sacked.’ - former prime minister and former Umno/BN chairperson, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Nov 29, 2002

‘MPs are more free now, compared to 10 years ago, to voice their opinions and views.’ - Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz, New Straits Times. Jan 14, 2005

(On an objection by a leading backbencher) ‘He may disagree, but at the end of the day it is the Whip's decision.’ - Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz, New Straits Times, Jan14, 2005

‘I am a loyal party member and will obey ‘(If the government bill didn't go through) it would have meant trouble for me.’ - Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz, The Star , Dec 25, 2005

‘They are free to debate and speak their minds, but when it comes to a vote they have to follow.’ -

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz, BBC, Dec 22, 2005

‘I was merely trying to help the Barisan retain voters' confidence by bringing up the issue at the state assembly. And I certainly did not go against the Barisan. I love Barisan and was merely trying to help it retain its voters' confidence.’ - Tan Cheng Liang, Jawi assemblyperson, FAC News, Nov 27, 2002.

‘BNBBC akan bertindak sebagai platform untuk Ahli Parlimen berkongsi pendapat mereka tentang isu-isu semasa bersama rakyat dan membolehkan rakyat memberikan pendapat dan komen-komen bernas yang akan membantu meningkatkan lagi mutu perkhidmatan yang diberikan oleh Ahli Parlimen terhadap rakyat yang mereka wakili. ‘ - BNBBC website.

‘I urge MPs, particularly from Barisan Nasional, to support the amendments to the two water bills in the interests of the people and country. The Barisan Nasional leadership should remove the whip and allow BN MPs to speak and vote according to their conscience.’ - Opposition Leader, Lim Kit Siang, April30, 2006

‘Saya ada pelbagai cara untuk mendapatkan maklumbalas yang telah disampaikan kepada saya. Itulah cara saya daripada dulu pun. Kalau saya nak buat sesuatu dengan orang yang hendak membuat kerjasama dengan saya, saya akan beritahu, kalau ada pandangan, kalau ada apa-apa yang mereka hendak ingatkan, kut saya terlupa sedangkan kita manusia ini lupa pun ada. ‘ - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Feb 9, 2004

‘Bekerjalah bersama saya, dan bukan untuk saya.’ - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Feb 9, 2004

‘I will deal with them, even if they're powerful.’ - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, March 23, 2004

‘For 15 years, I had joined the wrong party and I thought in year 2000 when I joined MCA, I could then serve the party and Barisan Nasional (BN).’ Lim Boo Chang, Datuk Keramat assemblyperson, Dec 16, 2002

No Boo Chang. You are still in the wrong party.