I refer to your report American offers his vote to Malaysiakini readers which appears to make a mockery of the entire democratic electoral process.

During the run-up to the Malaysian general election, we have had numerous articles, news reports and editorials about the importance of the individual's right to vote and to choose his/her own preference on his own accord without any undue external influence.

Yet now malaysiakini wishes to do the same thing in regard to the democratic electoral process of another nation. The plain fact is that any nation's elections are solely for the nation's own citizens to participate in.

At stake in the US elections are not just the international policies of the United States but also domestic internal policies such as education, economics, taxation etc. which Malaysians do not have a stake in or a right to decide on anymore than a US citizen has in regard to Malaysia.

Would Malaysians like it if citizens from other countries are able to similarly influence electoral votes in Malaysia? This action totally demeans the voting process in a democracy and is about on par as putting one's vote up on ebay for auction.

And I might wryly point out, that by such logic, given the emphasis by certain quarters on the treatment of illegal immigrants here, perhaps in the next Malaysian general election, maybe these quarters should offer their votes up to be decided by citizens of the nations where the illegal immigrants come from since our choice of national leadership has an effect on them also.