You can make the difference

Some years ago, I had dinner with some friends whom I have not met for some years since we left school. It was a very memorable meeting indeed. We talked about good old days and adventures we had during our younger days. The conversation flows to the present and many local issues were raised including expectation from the government of the day. Complaints and criticism on what ought to be done and what ought not are part and parcel of the discussions.

After listening a while I asked, “Since most of us are so concern on the well-being of the country, other than keep on complaining, can we play a role in determining the government we want”. “How many of us here are registered voters, I queried?” Surprisingly, about half of them have not registered as voters. Various reasons were offered for not being a registered voter including their vote will not make the difference. I told them if we are not even bother to use our vote, forget about whining and complaining.

Each and every vote counts. Ask the people in Kemuning, Kelantan. In the 2004 election for the state seat, the winner was decided by a majority of only two votes. Just imagine, the two votes might come from a husband and wife supporter of the winning candidate. Who knows, the winning candidate for the state seat of Subang Jaya might win with only one vote and the one vote might come from a patient of SJMC who insists on utilizing his/her right as a citizen of this country.

Sounds far-fetched? Not really. It did occurred but the incident was in a small town in USA many years ago. One patient who was hospitalized in the local hospital was adamant and insists that the doctors allowed him to go to the polling station to cast his vote. At the end of the day, the candidate that he voted for was elected with one-vote majority!

Who says one vote can’t make the difference?