Press freedom looks like a one-sided affair in this general elections as it appears only on the opposition coalition's manifesto.

With the campaign period slowly tailing towards the end, I have a feeling that whatever tactics BN and Pakatan would employ should have more or less been unveiled by now. It is now time to drag the show a little longer until the clock ticks towards the midnight on the polling day.

There is only one reason behind their moves: Who asked you to wear the blue shirt?

The former means to fight for sympathy votes with the help of persecution experience or personal healthy problem while the latter means to make a soft appeal for votes by posing in an about-to lose gesture and calling the slogan of "your vote decides my fate".

The dynamic movements in urban areas and Chinese community have been expected and these are, after all, Pakatan Rakyat's strongholds. The static situation in rural areas is, however, enigmatic.

Stung by the incendiary anti-Christian campaign in the run-up to polling day, Bumiputera churches in Sabah and Sarawak are hitting back with unprecedented vigour. A "pastoral communiqué " on the 'Allah' issue has been hammered out to be circulated on Friday, just two days before polling to all city and interior churches. A copy of the communiqué was obtained by MySinchew today.

However, does money campaigning really work? Would Penang voters really vote for the BN after enjoying the free meals and receiving the freebies?

It is expected that most Chinese voters would vote for Kit Siang and Pakatan Rakyat candidates. It is a situation that can hardly be changed by the BN.

What do the Chinese want actually? If they are still asking this question at this moment, would they be able to gain Chinese votes?

I have flown back in time to vote. My wife, Kim, returns on May 4 from Indonesia where we have been serving as missionaries for the past three years. The next day we drive up all the way to Taiping to cast our precious votes. The following day on May 6, I turn 65 and wake up to a new Malaysia. It's the best birthday present I will ever get. My colleagues are less optimistic.