I take this opportunity to beseech my fellow countrymen of every political hue and leaning to please accept the verdict of the 12th Malaysian general election with magnanimity.

It has been quite a vigorous period of 13 days of campaigning - often, perhaps, whence stinging words that strike a chord of unpleasantness within certain ethnic groups may have been uttered. Emotions may have been stirred and sensitivities breached. All these in the heat of trying to win over the votes of those in the audience which the candidates were addressing.

However, all that has come to pass. The overtures to the voters by the candidates have ended. The rakyat , in their own peculiar ‘Malaysian-style-wisdom’, have decided who to vote for at the polls.

Since the results are out, whatever the outcome, it is incumbent upon every Malaysian to accept the verdict of the majority. It may not be what one wishes for, but, alas, the majority has made their preference known at the ballot box.

One may not agree with it, one may have reservations as to how ‘fair’ the elections were, one may even dispute decisions made by the Election Commission with regards to certain procedures initially consented to only to be withdrawn at the last moment, but, accept one must.

To the victors, it is better to refrain from putting up a display of overbearing and tumultuous celebrations - it'd be much wiser if they prepare to work and fulfill their election promises immediately.

To the vanquished, it'd be advisable to avoid public display of disaffection nor castigations of improper conduct resulting in cajoling of the masses on to the streets.

Should one have genuine reservations on procedures and/or incidents regarded as unlawful, then the proper path to opt for should be legal redress available - nothing else!

Many of us who were around in 1969 have experienced the terrible outcome of unbridled display of emotions by election winners and losers immediately after that year's polls and, I dare say, none of us wish to ever see a repeat of similar acts of brutal violence occurring in this beloved nation of ours again.

So, my fellow Malaysians, let us accept the verdict with magnanimity and learn to live with it, for, to opt for any other avenue, especially that of a public show of disaffection, especially on the streets, would be too onerous for our country.