Malaysia Chronicle
The Prime Minister's statement that elections can be held before full reforms by the Parliamentary Select Committee is a statement that is surely in bad taste and bad faith.
It shows critics were right in warning that the true nature of the PSC was merely a bargaining tool to stem and delay real and critically-needed election reforms. Najib Razak was only trying to bolster public confidence in the BN and not cleaning up the election system. After all, the UMNO argument goes, why should he or the BN when the existing system is specifically built to ensure their continued stay in power?
Whatever hope Najib gave on Monday, he killed on Friday. This is indeed a Jekyll and Hyde leader, and without doubt the worst ever amongst the country’s 6 prime ministers. His supporters may rush and defend him but the acid test is simply this, what has distinguished his administration other than Scandal (and with a capital S too!).
So, tricked again by their own PM, Malaysians must now figure out other ways to push for electoral reform. Otherwise, a dark future beckons as more leaders like him emerge to run the country.
Look at the Singapore system
It is interesting to note that Singapore is heading into a presidential election, a contest that has been tagged asThe Battle of the Four Tans. Now, no one in the right minds would ever say Lee Kuan Yew is more democratic than Mahathir Mohamad. And yet the extremely tightly-held island republic is willing to make changes even if these threaten its awesome hold on power. The reason why? Perhaps it’s because it knows it won’t lose power anytime soon and also because it knows that, to not embrace the new politics demanded by the world’s Gen Y would only leave Singapore trapped under the proverbial coconut shell. Singapore would lag side by side with Perkasa’s Malaysia. Something for us all to ponder on.
What is significant for Malaysians to note about the Singapore presidential race is the introduction of the electronic ballot slip. The island’s 2.1 million voters receive their ballot slips via post. Voting registration in Singapore is automatic and it is an offence for voters not to cast their votes. If one fails to vote, their names are taken off the electoral roll and to reinstate one's vote, one needs to pay a fine. The introduction of this electronic ballot is something new in the coming Singapore presidential election and introduced by the Election Commission of Singapore.
And before the guys in UMNO rush to claim positive comparison with Najib’s biometric voter verification system, let’s kill the idea. These are two completely different systems and the process involved are like day and night. One is shrouded in secrecy and lame excuses, while the other is open to audit.
The catalyst for Singapore introducing electronic ballot papers is even more interesting. In its recently concluded general elections, 4 residents out of the 2.1 million voter base did not receive their ballots papers. The 4 lodged a complaint, and the Election Commission was forced to react. It assured it would seek a solution to ensure that all citizens could perform their constitutional right to vote.
Thus, the introduction of the electronic ballot paper. The aim of this system is so that a Singaporean can never lose the chance to cast his or her vote. He or she logs into the government website, views details of the candidates, the location of the polling station and prints out the ballot slip. Vote casting is assured and the constitutional right of the voter is protected. Whether the system truly stands up to test remains to be seen, but in Singapore, the citizens trust that the Election Commission will protect their rights. Do a poll, check and see if the Malaysian Election Commission commands the same public trust.
Not a moment to lose
Enough said about Singapore. Back to Kuala Lumpur, where the prerogative in calling for general elections rest solely with the Prime Minister. He needs only the endorsement of the Agong. Parliament would then be dissolved and the Election Commission given the green light to kick off all the processes needed to conduct elections.
Which brings us back to the question of, if the elections are held before the PSC reforms are in place, then why the need for a PSC in the first place? Is Malaysia so rich? Are its lawmakers so free? A PSC that serves no purpose is a waste of public funds and time. It is meaningless and merely for window-dressing’s sake. But let’s move away from the PSC now, which is after all waste of time as we have argued.
Let’s look to Bersih’s 8 election reforms. These are (1) to clean the electoral roll, (2) reform postal ballots, (3) use of indelible ink, (4) have a minimum 21 days campaign period, (5) free and fair access to media, (6) strengthen public institutions, (7) stop corruption and (8) stop dirty politics.
More than ever, the Malaysian people must push for these BASIC safety nets to be implemented NOW. There is not a moment to lose.
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