By Francis Paul Siah

“When you offer yourself as a candidate, you have made a solemn pledge to serve the people and nation. It would be wrong to renege on that pledge upon your defeat,” the Catholic prelate of the archdiocese of Kuching said in his Sunday message at St Joseph’s Cathedral here.

He said it was not the end of the world for defeated candidates as there would always be more elections for them to contest. He added that they could also serve in other capacities in the political arena.

For the winners, meanwhile, Ha said it was their duty to serve all the people, including those who did not vote for them.

“It would be wrong to abandon those who did not support you, for politics must be inclusive, not exclusive.

“‘This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you’,” the archbishop emeritus said in reference to the Sunday text taken from the Gospel of John.

Ha added that a career in politics was a noble vocation and it was incumbent on those in power to be God-fearing at all times.

“Only with the grace of God will a politician remain steadfast and think of the interests of his country and people first.”

The archbishop emeritus also urged Catholics to come out in force on May 9, saying that not voting was not an option.

Calling this their “sacred democratic right”, he told them to vote wisely, responsibly and with a moral conscience.

“In casting our votes, we are choosing not just the leaders of our country but also the moral and spiritual direction of our beloved nation,” he said.

He also told the congregation to vote for candidates who stood for justice, integrity and good governance; who feared God, loved the people and who were able to safeguard religious liberty.

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