It is getting obvious to all rational-thinking Malaysians that the Barisan Nasional is prepared to play with fire and to take our beloved country to the brink of violence and rioting, in order to secure a two-thirds majority in the upcoming 10th General Elections.

Instead of addressing the serious issues of democracy and justice, accountability and transparency, corruption and cronyism, the integrity and the independence of the judiciary, the roles of the Police and the mass media, public participation and welfare, the BN has resorted to the politics of fear.

On 21 and 22 November, the BN published and broadcasted advertisements depicting scenes of violence. It also highlighted the non-issues of an Islamic state and a non-Malay prime minister.

On at least three occasions in the past five days, the prime minister himself has also been warning of the possibility of riots occurring. On one occasion he claimed that riots could possibly occur on the eve of elections when the Barisan Alternatif realises that it will not win the elections. On another occasion he stated that "if they want the Opposition they can vote for it. Then, they should give them the mandate, the two-thirds majority. But we will not guarantee that it will bring peace".

These examples of the politics of fear have been achieved with the connivance of the BN-owned and controlled mass media.

A free and fair election cannot be conducted in a climate of fear. Yet it is clear that Dr Mahathir and the BN are resorting to blackmail in order to secure a two-thirds majority. This politics of fear worsens the odds for the Barisan Alternatif which is already faced with gerrymandering of the electoral boundaries, the delay in allowing some 680,000 Malaysians from voting because the Elections Commission has not yet verified their registrations, discrepancies and phantom voters in the electoral rolls, the mystery of conducting postal votes, the biased coverage of the media, the illegitimate use of the government machinery by a caretaker government, and money politics.

We understand that the BN will be mounting another dirty campaign in the next few days, possibly on the 28 November. Various scenarios have been suggested: from staged riots by persons wearing Keadilan T-shirts, thousands of which have apparently been ordered by non-Keadilan people, to a screening of Anwar's alleged affairs over the mass media, to more statutory declarations alleging all kinds of terrible things, etc.

Recall UMNO's despicable move in the 1990 elections when it depicted Tengku Razaleigh, then leader of the opposition Semangat 46, wearing a tengkolok with an emblem that UMNO claimed was a Christian cross, thereby insinuating that Razaleigh was going to betray the interests of Muslims. Millions of copies of the Barisan-owned and controlled newspapers carrying this picture were distributed free to the public, especially to Malays, on the eve of the elections. TV stations kept flashing this picture ever so often. As a consequence of this dirty trick, the opposition's campaign was undermined and our country brought to the brink of a breakdown.

We appeal to the BN and the prime minister himself to address the important issues of the day and not to resort to dirty and dangerous tactics to secure a two-thirds majority.

We call upon the Elections Commission, the Police, and other authorities to protect our democracy and to ensure that those committing dirty and dangerous tricks, whether from the Barisan Nasional or the Barisan Alternatif, and regardless of their positions, be taken to task immediately. The Commission must declare immediately whether it is an offense to resort to fear and intimidation tactics.

This will prevent blackmail and violence and promote free and fair elections instead.

The rakyat have awakened. We are watching the politicians, the media, the Elections Commission, the Police, and the other authorities.