AS MALAYSIANS, whatever our religious affiliations maybe, we should say a prayer of thanks for all the blessings bestowed upon us by the Almighty God.

Our political stability, racial harmony, religious freedom, and economic prosperity are some of the things we should cherish and not taken for granted.

For if we are not vigilant enough in guarding these blessings, they will slip from our grasps. If complacency overcomes us, we will suffer as others who fell into this trap had suffered. We need not look far for examples to justify this fear.  Today our nation, after having overcome overwhelming odds, has defeated the Goliath.

We have won the economic battle. Now it is time to confront the forces of religious extremists, racial chauvinists and blatant opportunists who seek to rob us of our achievements during the past four decades of independence.

God willing, under the wise and able leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the unity of the people, we shall overcome these dark and evil forces.  Even under heavy economic siege by rouge currency traders and the Western press, we have managed not to kowtow and thus surrender our independence and sovereignty.

Now that the economy is recovering and the sense of confidence is returning to Malaysians, it is vital that we return the Barisan Nasional with a convincing two-thirds majority to Parliament.  Without this convincing majority, we will be left with a weak and indecisive government.  There will be chaos as extremists of all kinds will rise from every nook and corner.

God willing we shall overcome.

Mazri Bin Muhammad, Kota Baru (via e-mail)