Voting for a better Malaysia

First-time voters are among those excited for the upcoming elections. | Image from The Nut Graph

I will be 23 years old this year and it will be a memorable one, as I will be casting my vote for the first time for my country.

This is the moment everyone has been waiting for for the past few years. The questions (and speculation) of when Parliament would dissolve and the election dates had been flying all over the place

There are seven days until 5^th May 2013: The day Malaysia decides their future.

Who would I chose for the next five years? I am not disclosing that in this article. Besides, one’s vote should be private and confidential, right?

Instead, what I want to tell young and eligible voters out there is: Go out and vote.

I know that some young people out there remain ignorant on political issues. “I don’t care what’s going on” and “Politics are boring” are the two attitudes that certain groups hold.

For heaven’s sake, my fellow Malaysians! It is our duty and responsibility to our country. Don’t forget that one day people like us will take over Malaysia’s socio-economy and politics, yet many among the youth choose to be ignorant about our country.

In some sad cases, young people rant about certain social and political issues on social networking sites, firing vulgar words and attacking other parties for their personal opinions.

Despite being a ‘gangster’ in the virtual world, these people live in plain disregard to what is actually happening in the real world. Yes, you can win these ‘cyber wars’ and traumatise other web users, but the real problem isn’t solved.

Being a ‘cyber trooper’ is about being weak and running away from reality – in other words, being a coward. If you are really dissatisfied with the issues around them, use proper platforms to voice your opinion. Choose a leader that can listen to and serve the people. And be reminded by the fact that it is people who choose these leaders through proper democratic channels, and these leaders should be fighting for the best for their people.

Come next week, Malaysia gets to decide if it wants to change.

For those who have registered, no matter who or where you are, exercise your right as a citizen to vote.

Article 119 of the Federal Constitution states that “every citizen who (a) has attained the age of twenty-one years on the qualifying date, (b) is resident in a constituency on such qualifying date or, if not so resident, is an absent voter and(c) is, under the provisions of any law relating to elections, registered in the electoral roll as an elector in the constituency in which he resides on the qualifying date.”

It is compulsory for Malaysians who have reached the age of 21 to register as a voter. Remember to head to the post office to register as a voter after you turn 21. In fact, here is a suggestion: Why not register on your birth date? That could be more memorable!

Who says that one needs to shed sweat and blood to show how much they love their country? Show your love towards Malaysia through the ballot boxes.

Posts by Ho Kit Yen

Experienced the unexpected turning point in life and living life differently than before. A Mass Communication undergraduate that is fond of writing. Live by this motto: "How are you going to inspire without being inspired first?" Wanting to inspire people through my writing. And also a young Malaysian hoping for a better Malaysia.

Posted on 30 April 2013. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.

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