LETTER | Dear brave Malaysians,

Apa khabar? How are you? Ni hao? Vanakkam!

Thank you for reading my letter.  And I hope this letter find all of you in good spirit and you are ready to kick Umno/BN government out come May 9, 2018.

My name is Amran Ariffin.  I’m a Malaysian residing in Perth since 2014.  I came back to Malaysia on Feb 28, 2018 to join forces with all of you to ensure a new beginning for our beloved Malaysia.

For the last two weeks I had been moving around the country to help support my friends who are contesting under Pakatan Harapan’s banner in various constituents: Wan Saiful Wan Jan for Bersatu in Pendang, Zairil Khir Johari for DAP in Tanjung Bungah, Dr Afif Bahardin for PKR in Seberang Jaya and Khalid Samad for Amanah in Shah Alam. I would like to apologise to my buddy, Liew Chin Tong who is standing for DAP in Ayer Hitam for not being able to help him there.  Truth be told, I’m running out of time and funds!

It is very heartening to meet so many of you who are eager to make a difference and return the power to the people. In Pendang, I met Hafiz, an insurance agent who spent all his waking hours with me braving nightly pouring rain and daily sweltering heat going around the villages to beg for votes on his rickety kapchai.

In Tanjung Bungah, I met Jenny, a very successful businessperson currently residing in Holland but who has come back for three months to help with campaigning. From morning till night you’ll see her spending all her energy helping the election machinery in Tanjung Bungah.  

In Seberang Jaya, I met with Ely, an entrepreneur who owns three successful different businesses.  He helped me with places to stay and a car to drive during my time in Penang.  In Shah Alam, I met my old neighbour, Abang Zahry who put aside his petrol station business for few days to ferry me in and around Shah Alam for my ceramah engagement and campaign.

These are ordinary Malaysians from all walks of lives and from all races who are putting their personal interests aside, spending their own time and money for a better Malaysia not just for them, but for all of us.

Now it is time for you, brave Malaysians to do your part and return the favour - or their selfless efforts will be in vain.

For pakcik and makcik in kampung and Felda who have been voting for Umno/BN for all their lives, I’m begging you to vote for Pakatan Harapan for once.  

Please put your fear and doubt aside. Umno/BN will not know your votes.  You’ll still get your deserved financial assistance whether it is BR1M, subsidised fertiliser or trawl, maybe better with no or less corruption in new government.  

Think about your grandchildren whom you rarely seen nowadays because their parents don’t have enough money to balik kampung due to the high cost of living in town inflicted by GST.

Kick Umno/BN out to teach them a lesson and tell them to their smug faces that you are the people with dignity and not simpletons as they like to believe.  Please stop them from making you beg for your own money. Please vote for your maruah (dignity)!

For middle and high-income Malaysians and businesspeople who are supporting Umno/BN for their financial wealth, please put your selfish interests aside for once.  

I know you are having the time of your lives spending all the monies made from your government contracts dished out by the government.  But how many cars can you drive? How many houses can you live in? How many handbags can you carry? How many pairs of shoes can you wear at once?  

In the end, there is no such thing as a free lunch and this will be paid for by your offspring and future generations many folds over. I know you want a new government too - a clean government that can help provide a level playing field for all to compete on merit without resorting to bribery. Please vote Umno/BN out and you can sleep better at night. Please vote with your conscience.

For hardcore PAS supporters who think they deserve to go to heaven, please find reason and forgiveness in your heart.  

I know you are angry at Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad.  You are not the only ones.  I know you think PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is a better leader than PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.  There are others who agree with that too.

I know you think PAS is a better party than Umno/BN and Pakatan Harapan. I know a lot of people agree with that too. But why are you not joining us in fighting the evil and promoting the good? How come your leaders are silent and berkecuali (neutral) when corruption issues are being discussed?

This is not what Islam taught us.  Islam taught us to fight evil and promote goodness as the main pillar. How could you not forgive Mahathir, who has repeatedly asked for forgiveness? Hasn’t Islam taught us that everyone deserves a second chance? Also, even if you are convinced that voting for PAS is the only way to heaven, how do you justify letting Umno/BN win again?

Umno/BN managed to convince you that you are kingmakers, but the rakyat see you as a court jester, a clown, a joker, a spoiler.  Please do not let yourselves be used by Umno/BN and become a laughing stock. Please vote with your iman (faith).

For Maryam Lee and the young ones supporting #UndiRosak, I feel you. I know you are angry. I know Harapan is not perfect, far from it. Heck, I agree with you that Mahathir is the architect of Malaysia’s current problems. But what choice do we have now?

While I respect your choice, what good does it bring to spend your time driving to the election centres, wasting your time queuing under the hot sun just to spoil your precious votes? I know you are far better and smarter than that. I know you want to be on the right side of history, not the ones who allow Umno/BN to continue ruining your young lives. Please vote with your minds.

For all hardworking Harapan supporters who have been going the distance for this election - the election is won or lost at the ballot box.  Do not let the number of people at the ceramah fool you. They are the converted, and what good does it to preach to the converted?

Please help your friends and families vote. Ferry the less fortunate to the polling centres. If you are polling agent, counting agent, or barong agent (PACABA) volunteers, never let your guard down. Flood your Instagram and Facebook feeds with Harapan’s message.  Call your friends who are uncertain and worried about what change can bring.  They need a bit of assurance from you.

I know you are tired, I know you are anxious. I know you are worried.  But please vote with your hope.

To all brave Malaysians out there, please make sure to come out in droves and vote. We are going to celebrate a new dawn for Malaysia and you want to be on the right side of history with the majority of us!

Always remember, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of the evil is for good men to do nothing.” Please don’t be that few good men. Vote with all your heart for a new Malaysia.

Again, thank you for reading. We shall win, Insya Allah.

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