General Election No. 13

I am back to Ipoh now. Tomorrow - 5th May 2013 - is Election Day. The citizens of the nation will cast their vote to elect a new government and it is a choice between Barisan Nasional (BN), the ruling party for the last 55 years or Pakatan Rakyat (PR), the opposition pact between PAS-PKR-DAP.

Never in the history of Malaysia had I observed such a close call. Never had we Malaysians faced a General Election that may be so closely contested between the incumbent Governing party vs an opposition pact that seems to have the support to overthrow the ruling party Barisan Nasional; and never had I observed such anxieties and uncertainties of BN, who had ruled the nation for more than 56 years, feeling such insecurities with a probability that they may become the ruled, no more the ruler.

2008 was the beginning of the opposition pact getting the first experience to rule 5 state governments. Back then, the opposition parties managed to overthrow BN in Penang, Selangor, Kedah, Kelantan and Perak. Though the BN managed to wrestle back Perak but this time around BN will be facing off with a much stronger opposition pact.

It looks like we are heading towards a 2-party system and may likely have a new parliament filled with almost equal number of MPs from both sides. From observation it is likely that the winner will likely be a slim majority, either BN or PR, or we may likely get a hung parliament - 50-50!!

Observation: Penang should remain with PR; Kedah looks uncertain for both sides, Selangor may remain with PR; Kelantan is also certain to remain with PAS. Johor, Sabah, Sarawak, Pahang, Melaka and Perlis should remain BN. Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu and Perak looks 50-50.

I am going to vote tomorrow and I will keep my vote a secret. I only hope the nation will remain peaceful after tomorrow. And we hope that the new government will be a better one that before.