Non-voters do not help in nationbuilding

AS the nation holds its breath while we grapple for a way out of this post-ge15 (15th General Election) hung Parliament, we may be overlooking the fact that some 28% of eligible voters did not do their duty.

Of the 21 million eligible voters only 15 million fulfilled their responsibilities in caring for the future of the nation.

Those who could not vote owing to acceptable circumstances are, of course, absolved. Those who could not vote owing to discrepancies in the electoral system must be told that it will never happen again.

But those who wilfully decided not to vote are not patriotic. These wilful non-voters have no legitimacy in commenting on the current situation. They are not participating in building the nation’s future and are being selfish citizens.

In the first place, no one should be pleading with eligible voters to exercise their democratic rights and fulfil their national duty. We should, in fact, demand for that right as it is enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

People who wilfully do not vote are simply accepting all the benefits of being citizens of this country without doing any work to help it succeed. Such people should be shamed, and any complaints they make about the election or the political situation should be ignored.

Hopefully, all Malaysian citizens will mature in thought over the next five years and recognise their duty to vote in a general election.

JD LOVRENCIER Kuala Lumpur