THE People’s Verdict is in. And the people have delivered their mandate to the Barisan Nasional to run the federal government for another five years.

The margin of 133 to 89 signifies the close fight between the Barisan and Pakatan Rakyat. There will have to be serious soul-searching from both sides for the real reasons for the results, especially when they fall short of their own expectations.

Be that as it may, the 44-seat majority is a comfortable enough margin for any government to function.

From the people’s perspective, it would not be wrong to say that the results, democratically expressed through the ballot box, are a fair representation of the people’s will.

The battle to win hearts and minds will continue, but we must not once again slip into the post-2008 scenario where heavy and divisive politicking was the order of the day.

There is much work to be done, to move the country forward. We are only seven years from realising our vision to be a fully developed country by the year 2020.

This must be a period of healing and reconciliation. Each party must first examine itself on its culpable responsibility for the excesses that came about in the heat of the campaign.

That the Prime Minister now wants to put national unity at the top of the agenda through a national reconciliation programme points to the fact that all are agreed that the values we hold dear in terms of our diverse make-up have taken quite a bashing.

Nothing will be gained through a finger-pointing exercise. If all parties can sincerely put nation above self, the process of healing will be easier.

As we have said in our editorial on the eve of polling day, there are many things the people may not agree about their politicians but when it comes to the issues that matter, the people are surely of one accord.

And, most of all, they want corruption to be seriously addressed and eliminated. This is something that all parties, no matter which side of the divide they stand, must treat as high priority.

These are desires that do not change, whoever holds the reins of power. Whether one side cruises to power with a huge majority, or scrapes through with a simple majority, it bears well for all to rise to the occasion and govern correctly.

The days of “the government knows best” are over.

To be sure, there are still some issues where the racial and religious divides are difficult to resolve.

But we must have hope that in our very own diversity lie our fundamental strengths. We must totally reject racial and religious bigotry, whichever side it comes from.

The motto of our nation is still Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu (Unity is Strength).

The nation we built succeeded not solely on the efforts of only one race but of all the people who are proud to call themselves Malaysians.

The politicking in recent times may have accentuated the divides but only to the extent that we allow them to. Let us not, however, simply brush aside the hurts and the wrongs that have emerged in this hard-fought 13th general election.

The way forward is for us not to lose hope in the people who have moral convictions and unity of mind and purpose, who truly understand what this nation needs. And it will be good for everyone who is about to accept the instruments of power to embrace them for the journey ahead.

For more election stories, please visit The Star’s GE13 site

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