THERE has been no end to talk these past two months of an impending general election. While it may be appreciated that announcing the D-Day is the prerogative of the prime minister, the consequences of the heightened secrecy is indeed weighing heavily on the rakyat.

One wonders whether we are aware of the painful consequences of a prolonged secrecy of an election date.

Given the wide speculation as to when the election will be held, a host of problems surface as a result.

To begin with, businesses are seriously affected.

Many are unable to commit to any schedules and deadlines, especially involving travel.

Likewise, companies and government departments are cautious in mobilising manpower to meet various business needs as well as training and development requirements.

Leave for staff is frozen while plans for training contracts are aborted and new agreements and trade-related engagements are shelved indefinitely.

Families are also unable to plan and commit to any activities, especially travel-related matters.

Weddings and celebrations have to be put off.

From a political standpoint, one may argue that these burdens which the rakyat have to endure are inevitable.

But when such speculation is prolonged, it can only burden the rakyat further.

And in the final analysis, there are no winners as it eventually affects the productivity and economic state of the nation as a whole.

J.D. LOVRENCIEAR, Semenyih

Source: NST – January 31, 2008