Looking at the current situation, it is in the best interest of the rakyat that we get this September 16 thing done and over with.

It is causing jitters among foreign investors and the BN government is panicking to the point of being crippled at the thought of Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat's takeover of the federal government.

It is using racial and religious tension created by irresponsible people to protect its hold on power.

I believe that my vote should be respected. Democracy dictates that the rakyat 's mandate be honoured and upheld.

Otherwise, there is no need for the people to cast their votes to determine the government of their choice.

Yes, that is democracy at work. To overturn the rakyat' s mandate is tantamount to committing treason against democracy.

There are many Malaysians out there who believe in this. Never mind if the end result blurs the country's overall situation. That our commitment to democracy, albeit defending an incompetent government, would put the country in a tailspin.

But what happens when the elected government of the day brings nothing but hardship and an undemocratic style of governance?

What happens when the government, in our case, the Umno-led BN government, fails to deliver their election promises?

What happens when the government can hardly contain the current racial and religious tensions which have strong May 13 connotations, blatant abuse of human rights by our law enforcers and legislators alike, widespread corruption and bad governance?

Since March 8, our economic situation has nosedived and the inflation rate soared. Malaysia's cost of living practically brings many of us, especially those in the low-income group, to our knees.

But the high and mighty in Putrajaya seem oblivious to the rakyat 's plight and the country's sorry state.

The BN government led by Umno's Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Abdul Razak are so engrossed and committed to maintaining power that they forget the real reasons the rakyat gave them the mandate in the first place.

They forget to function as a government and as a government for the people. Not for themselves, Umno, BN or their cronies.

But that is exactly what the BN government is doing right now. And we, those who love democracy allow this government to trample and abuse democracy and by firmly believing that elected MPs are betraying the people's mandate should they switch political allegiance.

Have we forgotten the reason we go to the polls? Isn’t it to choose a government from the people, for the people?

Perhaps, we are too egotistical to confess and admit that we made a wrong choice in exercising our democratic rights during the last general election. Maybe we voted in the wrong government.

I am a staunch believer in democracy and a fierce advocate of ‘anti-hopping’ politicians. I vow to stand by democracy and fight to defend its honour and everything that it stands for - ultimate rights and freedom.

Freedom? Did I say freedom?

The beauty of freedom as enshrined in the universal constitution of democracy is that it should be applied anytime, anywhere.

There is no need to wait for five years.

I, therefore, move to exercise my democratic freedom to sack an incompetent and corrupt BN government.

Welcome September 16.