LETTER | Don't want to welcome back kleptocrats

LETTER | As a Johor voter who's been living in the Klang Valley for over two decades, I get asked a lot these days about who I'd vote for during this Saturday's state election. Sometimes, when it comes to politics, I can get torn over how to vote.

I am not a super political analyst. In fact, I only had my "political awakening" during the 2018 general election when Pakatan Harapan toppled BN to form the federal government.

Like many of my peers then, we were caught up with the anti-BN wave and backed Harapan all the way in the hope of bringing change after over six decades of rule by the same coalition.

I remember driving all the way from KL to my hometown in Simpang Renggam all caught up with the desire for change and renewal.

Sadly, Harapan's 22-month rule did not quite live up to voters’ expectations. Perhaps my expectation was too high. No radical changes took place. Corruption was still happening and race-religious debate continued to dominate.

In fact, except for the change in cabinet members, I couldn't tell the difference between Malaysia pre-GE14 and post-GE14 on an experiential level.

And here we are heading to the polls once more. As I make my way back from the Klang Valley where I live to my hometown later this week to exercise my democratic right, I have a lot to think about.

But one thing is for sure: My vote will certainly not go to BN. The opposition like Harapan or Perikatan Nasional may have their lapses. But they do not have the track record in stealing and plundering the nation as BN does.

Look no further than the scandalous revelations from the trial of Roger Ng in the United States. The prosecution's star witness Tim Leissner openly said ex-prime minister Najib Razak was one of those people who had to be "paid off".

How embarrassing can that be to hear something like that? Do we want to continue to be an international pariah by voting in a coalition that has, as its figurehead, a man who has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and a fine of RM210 million for abuse of power and corruption?

How do we answer our kids on why a disgraced convict has returned to power?

Let's not go into some of the wrongdoings perpetrated by this man and those he's in cahoots with. Dozens of countries have probed this international heist. But here he is, swaggering in public like his criminal conviction was a badge of honour.

Worse of all, if Johor BN makes a clean sweep or a convincing majority, the likes of Bossku and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi may make a comeback, not just to interfere in the judicial process involving their court cases, but continue with their unfinished shady business cut short by the 2018 polls.

I don't know about the rest of the Malaysians. But I for one, do not want to be shamed and ridiculed for welcoming back the kleptocrats who have only brought utter disgrace to this country.

People like me may have misgivings over the opposition. For example, I cannot understand why PKR is not using the Harapan logo as I am not a seasoned political observer.

But I understand at this juncture, it's a choice between the lesser of the evils. And in this case, the answer is crystal clear.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.