My heartfelt congratulations to the opposition for achieving what was considered inconceivable in Malaysian politics. You were able to achieve this through cooperation and understanding of the plural nature of Malaysian society.

You have won four important states and successfully retained one. But your mission is not over. In fact, it just started. In the next few days, do not squabble on who should be in power. The opposition should compromise and show strength against Barisan Nasional. Barisan Nasional is nothing but a party for the Malays. The Chinese and Indian were inconvenient partners for them.

With your victory, the people understand that Barisan Nasional is party for the benefit of the Malays only. Now the hope of the people is that you, the opposition, will be the party to benefit all, including less fortunate Malays. You have denied a strong majority to the cronies of Barisan Nasional. But more important is that you show leadership in parliament.

You, the opposition, are almost equal in strength now to the Barisan Nasional. The time has come to show what alternative goodness you have to offer the people who put their faith in you. You must prove to the people that you are worth their trust. You must work hard so that in the next election, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak are either lost or sitting on the opposition bench in parliament.

The task for opposition is enormous. If you want the Malays, Chinese, Indians and all other Malaysians to support you further, please work to accomplish the following:

• Treat all Malaysians who are less fortunate with preferential treatment.

• Free all ISA prisoners, not only the Hindraf 5

• No more ISA as a fear mongering tool

• Assign on merit those who are suitable for state and national-level positions.

• Equal treatment and opportunity based on merit for all.

• No more government wastage.

• Your action and talk must equal that of the Barisan Nasional in Parliament.

• Lift the Chinese and Indians from their second-class citizenship status.

It is your responsibility to build on this year’s success. It is your responsibility to make sure the wealthy do not rob poor the poor. Again congratulations but this is only the beginning. Treat every Malaysian as Malaysian and not as Malay, Indian and Chinese. Malaysia belongs to all.

You the opposition are trusted today to show that someday you can run all 13 states.