Kudos to the Barisan Nasional in winning several federal and state seats uncontested on nominations days as it augurs well for a landslide victory in the coming polls.

It is quite sad to see that certain candidates from the ruling parties with tainted past and past their shelf lives are still retained in the coming polls.

State rulers are supposed to reign but not rule. They should be apolitical and should not make statements praising certain parties in the coming election. Neither should they use their palace to retain certain state ministers whom they favour. It was a great pity to see one state minister crying on air after it was announced that he would be swapped for a younger and dynamic leader. And at the eleventh hour, the change was reversed due to the interference of others.

Change is necessary in any situation. It is a sad affair to see the palace playing an important part in choosing the state minister instead of him being chosen by the winning parties in the coming elections. This will create discord among the populace as the whole idea of democracy is for the people to choose their leaders instead of being subservient to the rulers of the states.

As the BN chairman, the prime minister should have been firm in selecting candidates in the coming polls. He should use this opportunity once in every five years to clean out his stable. This will prevent corrupt incumbents from running for office.

All is not lost yet. Hopefully after the elections are over, the prime minister will choose candidates with a clean record to head the ministries concerned. The prime minister should not take the people's trust lightly.

Mr Abdullah, most common people with no hidden agenda would like you to succeed to take our country to new heights. And with the pool of talent at your hand, please make sure that the incompetent and mediocre ministers are replaced with the young and bold with a vision to make our country prosperous and harmonious.

We await the outcome of the polls on March 21 with bated breath. The feel-good factors which have been highlighted by the media do not reflect what has been seen and heard on the ground. The opposition parties do not have the means to fight the ruling parties due to the lack of funds. The present ruling parties ignore at their own peril the spirit shown by their diehard supporters. The fence sitters and swinging votes will be the deciding factors.

The dark horse can upstage the incumbent if voters are still unhappy with the present government. Moreover, most people still feel that the ruling candidates are only busy during elections time and will make a disappearing act once they are voted into office.