Beware last-minute election surprises

I refer to the Malaysiakini report A Hindraf Valentine: 'Mr PM, take my roses'. The report implies that some voters may abandon the BN if the Hindraf 5 continued to be detained under the ISA. Well, if desperate enough, the BN might just release the Hindraf 5 from ISA detention - on the EVE of election day - without warning - to create a false sense of euphoria and sway borderline voters. Another surprise tactic could be a last-minute promise to reopen the controversial Damansara Chinese-language primary school. We need to anticipate and immunise voters against such last-minute manipulations that the BN is so good at. Recent events have shown that this BN government understands resolute protests and has tried to trade votes for gratuities such as limited public holidays and minor school funding. But what we need is a permanent recapitulation of BN racist policies for a newly-learned humbleness and cleanliness. So, even if the BN releases the Hindraf 5 and reopens SRJK Damansara, we still need to deny its two-thirds parliamentary majority. This article was originally published on Jan 25, 2008, in MalaysiaKini.com as a letter to the editor.