LETTER | These two words sum up what Malaysia needs in our politicians today. It is the lack of these two values that can be cited as the source of all our troubles we are facing today.

Everyone is busy analysing each party’s manifesto. What is in it for my community? What goodies will be handed out this year? What new subsidies will be introduced next year?

Then, we have that nit-picking over the fact that the candidate fielded will not look out for the needs of certain communities.
If we continue to look at the above, we are losing sight of what is good for all of us long term. Let us not be blinded by short-term offerings that will not move us forward as a nation.

If we break it down to the most simplistic ideas, we should just be looking for candidates that possess these two qualities.

One only has to watch our Parliament's proceedings to know which party has the right leaders with the calibre and whit to guide our beloved country into the future.

Intelligence will keep us from losing billions of our taxpayers' money in ridiculous projects that provide no return to the rakyat.

Intelligence will enable good city planning with good roads, efficient public transport, sustainable developments and clean air. Intelligence will help keep our cost of living in control with sound financial planning.

And what is integrity? It is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Imagine if our politicians had just this one principal.

Yes, believing that every politician in the opposition has these qualities is being idealistic. Yes, they may fall short of our expectations in the future.

But this is what we should be demanding of the people who will lead us. The late Lee Kuan Yew once said: "The young must be idealistic, the young must believe that the world should be more just and there should be more moral rectitude in the behaviour of their leaders.”

One just needs to look at the quality of our current politicians in government today. Are these the kind of men and women we want to build and shape our future? Is it not worth voting for change for the next five years to see what could be? The choice is yours.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.