NOVEMBER 1 — The following breakdown for voters, for GE 15, has been given as below by the Election Commission:

• 21, 173, 638 eligible voters.

• 1, 393,549 between 18-20 years old.

• 20,905,366 ordinary voters.

• 146,737 from armed forces and their spouses while 118,794 are police personnel and their spouses.

• 2.742 absent voters based overseas.

Elections are supposed to give the rakyat the opportunity to participate in government, so that democratic values can rise to new heights. This can bring about a plurality of opinions where some can influence leaders, positively, to craft out a better future for the nation, for all.

I will focus on no. 2, our youth.

Our youth are the recipient of the nation’s future, so rightfully they should lend a hand in crafting out this, hopefully, brighter future.

With your voice, with your vote, my dear youth, you not just advocate for change — you can demand for change! And change, you must, you don’t have a choice.

Vote in the present, sitting govt, criminals will walk free, innocents will suffer in their place, an already bankrupted nation will face further plunder... do you see any future in that?

Our present divisive politics stink to high heaven; it’s time for you brave hearts to come forth, step up to create a new politics for Malaysia.

One that not only all of us fellow Malaysians can be proud of, where we care to participate, where we go to sleep at night with hope, but also one where you youth can make decisions that will impact your own lives and future.

Come on, this is a no brainer, your lives are at stake!

Come out and vote out this corrupted regime, the joke of the whole earth, decadence beyond compare!

Come back to vote, and bring back some semblance of sanity to a country gone rogue!

Come, don’t negate all the good that the Undi-18 movement has accomplished, the dream to build the movement of champions for democracy.

Vote in clean leaders, especially those young, dynamic leaders who have evolved through social movements, leaders who dare to dream of a clean Malaysia, leaders who are colour-blind, leaders who will soil their hands and go down to the ground, mud and flood waters even!

Come out, come back and decide your own future. Don’t leave them in the hands of those who should already be inmates of Sungai Buloh and their cowardly and perhaps equally corrupted cohorts... they themselves have no future, save to flee for their lives!

Say "Yes” to a Malaysia, our forefathers dreamt of — a beautiful tapestry of colours, unique qualities that make us all the richer, stronger and better.

Say "Yes” to solidarity, love, peace, understanding, fortitude — we are one, we are all Malaysians... ini Tanah tumpah darahku!

Say "No” to corruption, division, cowardice, hatred, exploitation, and all things evil.

You were all born, beautiful babes, out of love, for love.... where has that love gone?

Don’t be jaded, don’t be bitter when you can, at present, only view our mainstream politics with heightened cynicism.

Be better, instead.... come out, come back and craft the Malaysia you wish to live in, the Malaysia you wish to thrive in, the Malaysia where your blood flows, where your forefathers died for.

You are kingmakers, after all, my dear youth.

Thank you and God bless.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or organisation and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.