I write to congratulate the deputy prime minister on the two statements he made recently as was reported - one, to elect capable leaders and two, we cannot be racial on the matter. His call is timely and in fact overdue.

I am sure when he said capable, he meant competent men and women able to understand our people's dreams and aspirations, able use our national resources strictly for the country's benefit, able to debate, interact and formulate mutually good policies with other countries in this world of globalisation.

When we, the people of Malaysia look at Umno and BN leaders how many can we eliminate by not being capable? How many are not corrupt, how many have integrity, how many are honest, how many understand the long-term dreams of the people, how many feel for the minorities, the poor and the neglected? How many are compassionate to their plight?

Going by these standards, all Umno and BN leaders will be eliminated without exception from being a ‘wakil rakyat’. It is therefore time for BN to look for capable leaders as the elections draw near to replace the redundant and incapable, obsolete men and women of BN.

Let the rakyat, listen to the DPM and vote for capable men and women even though they are all outside of BN folks. We cannot be racial. My friends and I have not stopped laughing since reading this statement of the DPM, coming as it does from the most racist and communal Umno.

Do not forget this is the party which asked ‘when are going to use keris’ and ‘bathe in blood’.

But the DPM is right. We need leaders and parties that are not racists, not religious fanatics and who do not exploit race and religion to stay in power. Let us look for such men and women be they from outside of BN.

Go for it people. Let us take Najib seriously and vote for change.