GE16: LET’S PREPARE EARLY

 

𝗚𝗘𝟭𝟲: 𝗟𝗘𝗧’𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗬

I am starting my entries on GE16 today, March 8, 2026.

Let us start early this time. We need to define the narratives. We cannot depend on the politicians. They would likely disappoint us.

Let us prepare to vote with both our heart and our head. And let us learn from past experiences. We must not make the same mistake again by voting for those who say one thing before the election and do another after it.

In GE15, Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, or background, voted against one very important enemy: 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. For the second time in our history, we rose above race and religious politics and focused on a national issue.

The first time was in 1955, when we voted together for our freedom from the British. Malays, Chinese and Indians came together as one people around a national cause: 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺.

But realpolitik disappointed us.

Immediately after GE15, the very politicians who had asked us to reject corruption quickly coined terms like “Green Wave” to divide us again as soon as they could. And the other side was just as quick to play the same game.

You see, many political parties and leaders live, grow and thrive on race and religious politics. Any other narrative weakens them. When Malaysians unite around national issues, their usual tools of division lose their power.

So they will resist any movement that takes away race and religion as the main narrative for political survival. Breaking us apart is how they remain relevant.

That is precisely 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀.

The truth is this: we voted against corruption based on our shared moral and religious values. In mosques, temples, churches, gurdwaras and other houses of worship, people were reminded that corruption does not depend on race or religion. It harms everyone: you, me and the nation.

We took that faithful step to be better Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists and Sikhs. And we voted based on a real national issue.

We said NO to corruption.

Yet soon after, one group, the Muslims, were labelled the Green Wave. And we fell into the political trap. The unity we had built around a national cause slowly gave way to narratives built on sectarian lines.

Let us be wiser this GE16.

In 1955, we voted together for freedom.

In 2022, we voted together against corruption.

In GE16, let us once again unite around the issues that truly matter for Malaysia.

Let us vote on real national issues. I will be proposing them soon, one of which is the fight against corruption.

Let us vote with both our heads and our hearts.

Peace,

Anas