Evening cup of tea, is just so prefect under a 20 degree Celsius of a typical London spring temperature, I am some 6544.8 miles away from home country but Malaysia is just so close to my heart and I can't take my eyes away from its latest development and post election syndrom.
I have different phase of active involvement in our general elections. 2004, I was covering general election as a broadcast journalist, 2008 I was monitoring generaL election from an academic perspective and this time around as a housewife who is married to a foreigner but still anxious to know how my Malaysia is going through her 13th GE despite the 'over-dramatised' political lobbying.
My cynism on our electoral process started way before I can understand the meaning of 'democracy'. I remember those elections during my childhood. We know that there is an election whenever we see the Public Works Department at work paving or resurfacing our 'kampung' roads with tar. Then you can see politicians dressed smartly in their white shirt and blue cap along with their supporters canvassing from house to house making sweet promises which some times were only meant to be broken. At that time, as a child the elections and campaigning were merely like a funfair. This was in the 80's when the support for ruling party was so strong that even in my village where majority were Chinese voters, an opposition will be regarded as an outcast. Nationwide, the ruling parties will always champion with a high score;a very comfortable majority by conquering some 85% of the countries votes.
However, things have changed now, along this change we have seen so many things happening to the country of ours, some of them were predicted, some unprecedented, some anticipated, and some unwelcomed but it never failed Malaysia or her people. Change is evolving , not only radically this time because of the ''Ini Kali lah' slogan but even before at its own pace.
The year 2008 was a classic indicator of these wave of change. It ushered with most uncommon general election in Malaysia. Yes, the result was same as with all preceding general elections following independence in 1957, the parliamentary election was won by Barisan Nasional, BN, but we have to remember that it yielded one of the worst results in the coalition’s history. Opposition parties had won 82 seats (out of 222 seats in parliamentary) or 36.9% of the parliamentary seats, while BN only manage to secure the remaining 140 seats or 63.1 percent. It marked also the first time in Malaysian general election record that the coalition loses a two-thirds supermajority win in the Malaysian Parliament required to pass amendment to the Malaysian Constitution. In addition, 5 of 13 state legislatures were won by the opposition, compared with only one in the 2004 elections.
May 5, 2013 also echoed after this trend and earning an extra of 7 parliament seats to the Pakatan Rakyat(PR), so what is the fuss about democracy right being buried my brothers and sisters? Some critics are saying May 5th will come to know as 'Great UMNO-BN heist', some says they have 'blind -folded us with EC's sorcery', but I would say Malaysia is trailing along the right path despite the story of many political magicians. It was sad to see social media networks were flooded by black posters, some reads 'R.I.P. Democracy'. It is sad to see some net-savvy young mates just post them without even giving it a thought. The oppositions are hammering allegations of foul play but to me it's an old-tale in Malaysia's election history. Money play, phantom voters,foreign workers' given Malaysian IC to enable them to vote (this time around it's the Bangladeshis and if you remember previous elections, it's about 'Indonesian voters'), or gerry-mandering is all nothing new and it is another matter because despite all these marring and charring of our political system, in this race against each others party ideology and political means, both parties have their gains and loses.
More at the losing end, in my opinion is the ruling coalition party Barisan Nasional- BN won but it's a small victory at an enormous cost. Gone were the time when politicians says, ''Listen!'', we listen. Now it's the time, the rakyat says, ''Listen!'', you (the politicians) listen. This is the change. Democracy is not dead as painted by some skeptics Active democracy, I would say it aloud , is still alive in our land, it is only as strong as we make it and that is with active participation of us, the citizens not only during times of vote but all the time. Change can't happened overnight and if you are talking about change, then what kind of change would you like to see? Who do you think can be the catalyst of change ...I want to see a robust parliament and It will be as vigorous as the common people's aspiration for a better nation. For many commoner, life is a usual business after the voting day. Despite, whatever rhetoric that has been staged to us, you and I know what we want- and as for me I want a balance of power, I want solidarity in my voice and I want a future together.
I have different phase of active involvement in our general elections. 2004, I was covering general election as a broadcast journalist, 2008 I was monitoring generaL election from an academic perspective and this time around as a housewife who is married to a foreigner but still anxious to know how my Malaysia is going through her 13th GE despite the 'over-dramatised' political lobbying.
My cynism on our electoral process started way before I can understand the meaning of 'democracy'. I remember those elections during my childhood. We know that there is an election whenever we see the Public Works Department at work paving or resurfacing our 'kampung' roads with tar. Then you can see politicians dressed smartly in their white shirt and blue cap along with their supporters canvassing from house to house making sweet promises which some times were only meant to be broken. At that time, as a child the elections and campaigning were merely like a funfair. This was in the 80's when the support for ruling party was so strong that even in my village where majority were Chinese voters, an opposition will be regarded as an outcast. Nationwide, the ruling parties will always champion with a high score;a very comfortable majority by conquering some 85% of the countries votes.
However, things have changed now, along this change we have seen so many things happening to the country of ours, some of them were predicted, some unprecedented, some anticipated, and some unwelcomed but it never failed Malaysia or her people. Change is evolving , not only radically this time because of the ''Ini Kali lah' slogan but even before at its own pace.
The year 2008 was a classic indicator of these wave of change. It ushered with most uncommon general election in Malaysia. Yes, the result was same as with all preceding general elections following independence in 1957, the parliamentary election was won by Barisan Nasional, BN, but we have to remember that it yielded one of the worst results in the coalition’s history. Opposition parties had won 82 seats (out of 222 seats in parliamentary) or 36.9% of the parliamentary seats, while BN only manage to secure the remaining 140 seats or 63.1 percent. It marked also the first time in Malaysian general election record that the coalition loses a two-thirds supermajority win in the Malaysian Parliament required to pass amendment to the Malaysian Constitution. In addition, 5 of 13 state legislatures were won by the opposition, compared with only one in the 2004 elections.
May 5, 2013 also echoed after this trend and earning an extra of 7 parliament seats to the Pakatan Rakyat(PR), so what is the fuss about democracy right being buried my brothers and sisters? Some critics are saying May 5th will come to know as 'Great UMNO-BN heist', some says they have 'blind -folded us with EC's sorcery', but I would say Malaysia is trailing along the right path despite the story of many political magicians. It was sad to see social media networks were flooded by black posters, some reads 'R.I.P. Democracy'. It is sad to see some net-savvy young mates just post them without even giving it a thought. The oppositions are hammering allegations of foul play but to me it's an old-tale in Malaysia's election history. Money play, phantom voters,foreign workers' given Malaysian IC to enable them to vote (this time around it's the Bangladeshis and if you remember previous elections, it's about 'Indonesian voters'), or gerry-mandering is all nothing new and it is another matter because despite all these marring and charring of our political system, in this race against each others party ideology and political means, both parties have their gains and loses.
More at the losing end, in my opinion is the ruling coalition party Barisan Nasional- BN won but it's a small victory at an enormous cost. Gone were the time when politicians says, ''Listen!'', we listen. Now it's the time, the rakyat says, ''Listen!'', you (the politicians) listen. This is the change. Democracy is not dead as painted by some skeptics Active democracy, I would say it aloud , is still alive in our land, it is only as strong as we make it and that is with active participation of us, the citizens not only during times of vote but all the time. Change can't happened overnight and if you are talking about change, then what kind of change would you like to see? Who do you think can be the catalyst of change ...I want to see a robust parliament and It will be as vigorous as the common people's aspiration for a better nation. For many commoner, life is a usual business after the voting day. Despite, whatever rhetoric that has been staged to us, you and I know what we want- and as for me I want a balance of power, I want solidarity in my voice and I want a future together.
Back to my cup of tea...breezy, warm spring, birds chirping, my toddler throwing pebbles in our garden pond and I am sitting with my baby in my arms and sipping my tea. Life is blissful.
Comments
Good to see your back in writing and always hope to see your comments!
I certainly agree with your write up, very much agree and adhere that
"The oppositions are hammering allegations of foul play but to me it's an old-tale in Malaysia's election history. (last 3rd para)"
The opposition knows well how the system and BN tricks works! The question is why they did not plan for a proper counter-measures?
They were too comfort with Ubah and Ini-Kalilah slogan waves.
Second the choice of candidates is another issue and the local autonomy issue in Sabah wreck the changes for Pakatan!
Pakatan need to think out of the box! Not by staging demos and candle vigil!