Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak claims that the millions of ringgit promised and spent during the Hulu Selangor by-election is not vote-buying as it addresses the people’s problems. His statement is not surprising since Umno has consistently shown that it takes us for fools.
 
In a functioning democracy, the government assumes the role of a caretaker during elections just to ensure that public administration is uninterrupted. They are not permitted to promise development, approve projects, spend money for their constituencies or use government facilities during that time - the fact that these are typically done in Malaysia confirms our status as a flawed democracy. Pakatan Rakyat should not emulate BN in this regard. The citizenry look to you, Pakatan, as the standard bearer of good governance.   
 
An elected representative who does nothing for the entire five years of his term but becomes ‘Santa Claus’ during an election is engaging in corrupt practice and amounts to holding his constituents to ransom. This appears to be Umno’s and BN’s standard operating procedure.  

Bribery and using undue influence is an offence under Section 11 of the Election Offences Act 1954 and is punishable with a jail term not exceeding two years besides a fine. If convicted, the person would not be eligible to vote and would have to vacate his seat besides being disqualified from standing in an election for a period of five years. The EC is duty bound to investigate and report such instances though prosecution for such offences remains the jurisdiction of the Public Prosecutor.     
 
We know what malevolence was brought unto ourselves by keeping one party in power for more than half-a-century. Tragically, they are still ruling at the federal level with expressed support from Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the man primarily responsible for destroying our Merdeka constitution and instilling racism in the civil service and in the minds of ordinary Malays.
 
Pakatan has to expedite the registration of Pakatan Rakyat Malaysia as an umbrella body for PKR, PAS, DAP et. al and henceforth stand in elections under the PRM banner. Identify constituencies where Pakatan marginally won in 2008 and work hard there.
 
Pakatan must address grievances afflicting all communities sincerely. Pakatan has an excellent programme in the Malaysian Economic Agenda (MEA) which it should steadfastly implement.  Besides playing up the Maika share buy-back proposal, Umno and MIC gave hampers, paid RM300 to each voter, held parties with food and drinks and claimed Indian support had returned to them in Hulu Selangor. Is that what Indians are worth – a few drinks and RM300?
 
Lastly, identify current elected representatives who are deadwood and look for suitable replacements for the 13th general election.
 
Notwithstanding Hulu Selangor, Pakatan should consider fielding Zaid Ibrahim in Kota Baru, Bandar Tun Razak or Kelana Jaya in the 13th general election. We need him to redeem the respectability of the August House.

Zaid is an excellent person to have in Parliament to check right-wing Umno and its antics. Umno and its supporters wish to write off Zaid. Their hypocrisy was glaring during the recent Hulu Selangor campaign, driven once again by their perception of us as fools.

Do you think we do not know who amongst our politicians drink, womanise, gamble, swindle public money and perhaps even commit murder? In this regard kudos to Zaid for starting the 'know your leader' campaign so long as what he divulges is the truth. The citizenry would make informed decisions by knowing the characters they have as leader and ministers.