Barisan Alternatif won the Lunas seat and Barisan Nasional now has a big headache.

We hope BN will try harder to win back the Chinese votes and Malay votes by applying "fairer" ecomomic, educational and social policies. Thanks to BN anyway, voters now are more educated and they are not easily convinced by a few new roods, clean longkang , better traffic conditions, etc. Educated voters think before they vote. They are voting for the future of their kids, not so much for short-term development.

The prime minister is always very vocal on many issues. He lambasted US, UK and Australian leaders whenever he thought these powerful countries were bullying small nations like ours. His courage should be appreciated, but sometimes, just like MCA President Dr Ling Liong Sik has told his party members numerous times, " hua tau chun bian liu pan ji - you don't have to use half the words you say".

For the internal issues, especially related to the Chinese community, Ling could advise the prime minister not to air any grievances or criticise the Chinese in public. And it is also better to let MCA handle Chinese matters, to prove that MCA truly represents the Chinese in BN. MCA has a lot of Chinese community leaders who know much more about how the Chinese think as well as their needs.

Sometimes, as outsiders, we can see when the Umno leaders are causing trouble for their MCA colleagues, big troubles indeed. Like when the Umno Youth, led by the deputy chief, demonstrated outside the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, and it was up to MCA leaders to put out the fires started by their Umno counterparts.

My Malay and Chinese friends are so puzzled over the Suqiu issue: What is such a big deal that required the Umno Youth leaders to shout in front of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall and for the prime minister to liken Suqiu's action to that of communists/extremists?

As for the MIC candidate, S Anthonysamy, we pity him very much. He is just a victim of BN's mishandling of the issues. The loss has nothing to do with his capability.

But BA has to be blamed too. They stirred up racial and religious issues, and if they did superimpose Anthonysamy's head on a priest's robe, that action is unacceptable. So too their roughness in blocking the BN buses.

BA might say that that was the way their supporters were treated at Jalan Kebun, Shah Alam. But wrong is wrong, you cannot use wrong methods to counter wrong methods.

The in-fighting between DAP and Keadilan has also proved that the political parties are certainly having some kind of "feud" due to self-interests.

To me, regardless of whether BA or BA wins, the most important thing is to have a peaceful country. There is no point winning the election if the country is in chaos. The racial and religious harmony must be maintained and enhanced at all costs.

This is 21st century. The democratic and people-oriented policies will be welcomed by all races no matter which parties win the election.

BN cannot blame the Chinese and Indians for being suspicious each time the education ministry comes up with some ideas like the Vision School concept which limits the chances of more Chinese/Indian schools being built.

Many countries' oldest ruling political parties were toppled because they took things for granted and ignored their people's views. So, listen to the people. The silent majority's views must be understood, too, otherwise, out you go after the next election. This is my advice to both BA and BN.