Nomination day has come and gone and the stage is set for our country's 11 th general election tomorrow. Many of us would have made up our minds where to mark the 'X'. But it is said that some 20-30% of voters are still undecided.

These are the sophisticated ones who are waiting for the candidates/parties to win them over during last-minute campaigning. Some of them are said to decide at the very last minute - even as they are lining up to vote.

Ironically, they will be the ones who are really going to decide the outcome of this 11 th election. Certainly not those who have already decided that their votes are for the BN or the opposition. In the last 24 hours, these fence-sitters will be wooed by all the candidates.

The millions and millions of ringgit spent on posters, banners, ceramahs , caretaker government rallies, food, drinks and all other paraphernalia is really be for this pampered group. For the majority of the voters, all this spending makes little difference as their decisions have already been made - long before the dissolution of Parliament and long before nomination day.

Some time ago I had written two letters and to many, I sounded schizophrenic. The first was entitled: ' No meaningful democracy without effective opposition ' and this was followed by : ' I'm voting for BN '.

I received letters and e-mails supportive of my letters and others containing brickbats. I was said to be pro-alternative or pro-opposition one day and pro-BN the next. The outcome of the 11 th election is a foregone conclusion. BN will win and probably win big.

But how big a win may be within the control of the voters. To deny BN a massive majority is something possible. The question we need to ask ourselves on or before polling day is whether the governments we have had until now, with their massive majorities, have made good use of our votes and trust.

Have they made Malaysia a better place for us all after each election? Have they lived up to our hopes and aspirations and made the best use of our natural and human resources as well as our money?

If they have not, then we must do something about it. Pak Lah should have given us all more time to judge him and his agenda before calling for an election. The question we must pose to ourselves is whether continuing to give the BN our votes and ensuring it has a bigger majority and mandate will result in better governance (that's what we are looking for, right?)

Or will ensuring a stronger parliamentary opposition provide us with better check and balance and eventually better results? Being cognisant of the past abuses of massive majorities had, one is wearied.

Over the past many days, the caretaker PM, his caretaker ministers and other BN candidates have all being calling on the electorate to give the BN a bigger than before mandate. And just what do they plan to do with it?

These are some news headlines on the reasons why Pak Lah needs a bigger mandate:

I will work even harder for Malaysia - caretaker PM

BN wants a strong mandate to become a nation of excellence

BN will use the people's mandate wisely for better development - Abdullah

Give strong mandate to PM to enable him to bring to fruition to all the bold measures he has initiated - Lee Lam Thye

I can't speak for others but before Oct 31, 2003, I was firmly going to cast my vote for the alternative. But over the past three or four months there have been rays of hope of change for the better with the new PM.

But before he could walk the talk, he called for an election and doubts set in again. And now there are all these calls for a bigger mandate. A frightening prospect indeed if it materialises considering all the abuse, corruption and bad governance in the past.

The reasons given for a bigger mandate do not hold water. More foreign investments, more development, more prosperity, more glory, more distinction, more this and more that. What about those things which I hope to find mentioned like abolishing inhumane and anti-human rights acts and laws like the ISA, the OSA and the Printing Presses and Publishing Act.

Not forgetting more democratic space, the return of local council elections and real independence of the Election Commission and the ACA. The promise of a truly independent judiciary would have been an added sweetener.

These are hopes and aspirations of right-minded people and if a bigger mandate will see them flourish then obviously I will be voting BN. But sadly, all the calls for a bigger mandate were not for these reasons.

So, tomorrow I will know which party to vote for unless there is some sudden last-minute change. I am really not pro-alternative or pro-BN. What I am (and I believe there are many like me) is pro-Malaysia. May we all vote wisely and God bless Malaysia.