On nomination day itself, BN has secured 14 parliamentary seats uncontested, indicating that the ruling coalition is heading for a landslide victory in this general election, thanks to the "feel good factor" created by our new prime minister.

BN will very likely end up with a huge majority far exceeding two-thirds needed to amend the federal constitution. We need a strong government but should we give BN such a huge majority, which is like a blank cheque to do anything it likes?

This government has already declared Malaysia as an Islamic state though the present Malaysian constitution is still clearly secular. With the huge majority it is seeking - and it is very likely going to get it - in this general election, what is going to stop BN (read Umno) from amending the constitution to pave the way for the formation of an actual Islamic state which PAS has been advocating? This could happen when Umno is pushed into a corner and challenged by PAS.

Can we depend on BN component parties such as MCA, MIC, Gerakan or others to prevent this from happening if Umno decides to do so on the basis that Malaysians of all religions have already accepted the Islamic state concept by voting overwhelmingly for them? I do not think so. All of them will say yes to their political master, Umno, when they are directed to do so. Hence, we should not give them the 'blank cheque' to do anything they like.

The only way for us is to ensure there is some check and balance in the system. For an effective democracy, we need a strong and vocal opposition, too. With BN victory a foregone conclusion, urban voters should be encouraged to vote for non-religious opposition parties, particularly the DAP, to provide the check and balance before we lose the little democracy we now have after four decades of countless amendments to the original Malaysian constitution.

Make your vote count by voting for opposition MPs even if they do not win. Let BN rule, but have a strong opposition as well.