Voting BN equals patriotism?

The Star today (17 March) carries, among other things, a political ad of the incumbent BN on page 18. Under the big title of “Our Country’s Heritage” are a Malaysian flag and the words: “No other party can uphold the things we Malaysians treasure most. Racial and religious harmony. Peace. Stability. And Progress. Because no other party has the formula and leadership to do so.”

To vote otherwise (i.e. the opposing parties), in other words, is to “waste” away all this treasured "heritage" because, so goes the implied argument here, you’d be inviting chaos, instability and economic stagnation if not ruination.

Equally implicit in this ad is the shrewd use of the Malaysian flag. The flag, a symbol of the Malaysian nation and of patriotism, has indeed been incorporated into the BN’s ideological assault. Hence, it is suggested here that to vote for BN is to be patriotic as well – because you’d be protecting this valued "heritage".