COMMENT | Once in every five years, ordinary Malaysians decide the fate of the politicians, who form government and hold sway over almost every aspect of our lives. On that day, the voter is the kingmaker.

Tomorrow, voters will hold two pieces of paper that will decide the fate of the nation for the next five years and possibly beyond. They are the most powerful pieces of paper an ordinary Malaysian will ever hold. On election day, the voter is powerful - more powerful than the politicians when their votes are combined.

Tomorrow, Malaysians will be voting for their national survival.

For too long, Malaysians have been hoodwinked into believing a certain political party has the right to rule. They were brainwashed into thinking that every five years, they have to simply cast their vote for the ‘government’. Many were taken for granted and deemed ‘fixed deposit’. Government became synonymous with a political party.

But no more. The ground has shifted, the fixed deposit has moved.

One could say politics in Malaysia has seen a new awakening. It seems light is shining over the land. The darkness of ignorance is fading as more and more voters realise that in their constitutional democracy there are rules to govern government. There are rules that say what is proper and legal conduct for the politicians. And there are umpires such as the Electoral Commission and PACA (polling and counting agents) officials whose job is to ensure fair elections.

No one should doubt when those rules are broken. The tragedy of GE14 are reports in social media of the abuses of power, vulgar scenes of money politics and so on, as to render fair elections only in lip service. Suhakam has slammed the re-delineations and gerrymandering and malapportionment. Which fair-minded person would not?

It is another good reason for change if only to rid the nation of systemic cancer, the anomalies from abuses. The abuse of power would have seen the perpetrators charged for the offences in a more advanced country where rule of law means proper enforcement.

It is heartening to know that the BN government is rightly described as the caretaker government, something not seen before. And many want Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be given a fair go in being someone’s ‘political undertaker’. Stopping him midstream during a recent talk seemed underhanded. Then again, what is not when winning by hook or by crook is part of the plot?

Government ‘contract’

Former government minister Rafidah Aziz hits the nail on the head when she speaks of giving the contract of management of the country to a political party for five years. And this is what politics is all about. Giving a contract to politicians to deliver the services. This is what GE14 is about - deciding who the rakyat will employ to manage the country for the next five years. And she reckons it is time for a new manager and many evidently agree, as GE14 will confirm soon.

Those who love their country will want the best manager to take care of their country. Malaysians may not be political party conscious but they know right from wrong. When a manager does not perform up to the people’s expectations, whichever political party is involved, then their contract should not be renewed. Period.

I like Rafidah’s approach in her speech at Pakatan Harapan candidate Hannah Yeoh’s ceramah. She did not want to dwell on the s**t, which she called dung - ‘still a four-letter word’ - of the outgoing manager but suggested people look at the manager’s track record. Instead of being partisan, she harped on the importance of cause. She jumped on the Pakatan Harapan bandwagon because in her own words, “I believe in the cause.”

GE14 is all about the cause for good governance. This is the same cause to which so many ordinary Malaysians have rallied around Harapan. It is the same cause Malaysiakini began as a humble online media nearly two decades ago. It is for the same cause I have been contributing articles to Malaysiakini since its inception.

It is the same cause why we see groups of eminent Malaysians like G20 declare their stand. It is for the same cause student activist Adam Adli risked his future to defend. It is the same cause why former stalwarts of different administrations want change. It is the same cause for which Mahathir is willing to sacrifice the precious years of his remaining time on earth to champion. And the list of Malaysians who support the cause is endless.

Never in the history of the nation have the people of diverse backgrounds been so united for a common cause with a political coalition of such a broad range of personalities and talents. Again, Rafidah was spot on when she declared what is important in this common cause is that every Malaysian think of themselves as ‘Malaysian’.

A watershed moment

That is why I believe it is so important that GE14 becomes the watershed and historic mother of elections that will see a paradigm shift to a new era in the management of the country.

Malaysians want a change of political management. It is a noble change. They want a new government. The majority of them want Harapan to govern. And for good reason, because those who were given the chance for more than 10 years have proven they cannot do the job.

Why is the once unpopular Mahathir now so popular? It is all to do with the ‘cause’. Mahathir is now on the right side of history and on to a good cause. A good cause never hurt anyone but a corrupt cause results in ‘the worst case of kleptocracy’. Malaysians are not stupid.

Yes, there is such a thing as employing a dud to do a job that requires exceptional strength of character and consummate skills. What is the best judge? Track record. And Rafidah is right in persuading voters not to renew the contract of a manager who has a bad track record but also steals the furniture and will not let you into certain rooms of your house they manage.

One Straits Times columnist suggested three scenarios from GE14 - strong BN win, weak BN win, hung parliament. They are all plausible. But he overlooked one vital scenario: A landslide victory for Harapan. And why not? After all, we are in the age of confusion, and did not Donald Trump confound us with his win and the North Korean leader talking peace when everyone expected war?

I will not be confounded when Harapan forms the government after GE14. Who else will champion the ‘cause’? It is now or never and I do hope Mahathir ends his twilight years leading the cause at Putrajaya. Malaysia will then have come of age.

Thank you, Mahathir, for the sake of the ‘cause’, for being the juggernaut of good governance and for being the ‘hero of the hour’. May God give you a long life and bear much good fruit in your ripe age. May the rakyat not let you and all the heroes of the nation down.

May the ‘cause’ be with every Malaysian as they go to the polls. God bless Malaysia.

STEVE OH is the author of the novel ‘Tiger King of the Golden Jungle’ and composer of the musical of the same title. He believes in good governance and morally upright leaders.

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