As Malaysians go to the polls this Saturday, about 10-15 million of us (eligible voters) will be taking part in the future of our much beloved nation. If you consider yourself a rational, wise and an intellectually-sound citizen, you will make your own decisions based on the facts, your conscience and your constitutional interest in the future of this country.

Independent of what the press, the Internet blogs, friends, family members and spiritual leaders tell you about this election, you will be wise to consider four key simple factors in deciding which candidate and which party to cast your vote for.

a. The values and track record of the candidate's party - 30% (The Party)

b. Strategic vote based on the need for greater democracy, a two-party system, checks and balances and a stronger opposition in Parliament - 30% (The Strategic Vote)

c. The candidate's values and character - 20% (The Person)

d. What does he/she promise versus your own expectations/aspirations for the community and country - 20% (The Promises/Goals)

For Mr Tan, a first-time voter, looking at factor (a), he would vote against the ruling coalition because he gives a C or a D for the previous elected government's mismanagement of this multi-racial country in the past four years as well as over the past 50 years. For factor (b), Mr Tan would vote for an opposition party (irrespective of the candidate) because it is a strategic vote to deny the Barisan a two-thirds majority in order to have greater democracy and checks and balances.

Thus, 60% of his decision (a and b) is already made up in favour of an opposition candidate. Now factor (c) is a very important factor because, ethically and morally speaking, you would not want to vote for a candidate who is incompetent, corrupt or for a charismatic leader with a hidden agenda.

Factor (d) is also important because you want to know how the candidate addresses your deepest concerns about your country (the crime rate, the direction of the economy and the use of oil revenues, Malaysia's place in the global community, freedom of religious worship, etc).

So it is essential that you know what he/she said during campaigning, what he/she stands for and whether his/her promises and aspirations for the community make any intellectual and economic sense.

In Mr Tan's case, if the Barisan candidate is a more capable and more trustworthy person versus an opposition candidate whom he does not trust in terms of values or character, he would have a swing factor of up to 40% (factor c and d) against his 60% (factor a and b) decision to vote against the Barisan.

What will determine that swing factor (of more than 10%) for Mr Tan's vote depends on the additional facts that he reads, hears and sees between now and polling. It is my prayer that all the other 10-15 million eligible voters will make their decisions wisely too.