I've read and heard somewhere that having a by-election in this near future is wasteful. It is claimed to be a waste of public fund... It is a waste of time.... blah... blah and blah.... As I am "trying" to believe and convince myself that Malaysia is really practicing democracy, it leaves me with no option. I have to appreciate opinions other than mine. After all, democracy is about agreeing to disagree. Democracy is about appreciating diversity and differences.
However, this particular issue forces me to really question back what is democracy? What are the institutions or elements of democracy? Or what is "lay-man's" definition of democracy in Malaysia? And what is people's perception towards democracy in this country? Nowadays people keep on saying about perception.... (Actually I hate bandwagoning, but this time I don’t have much option.)This is my perception. This is how I look at the way majority of Malaysians perceive democracy, the way they define democracy and the reasons to see Malaysia as a democracy.
In my point of view, people’s perception is rather a top-down process than otherwise. As the people or masses are malleable, people’s perception is something that can be easily constructed, deconstructed and reconstructed. Obviously it's the roles of ruling elites who are well-equipped with authority and apparatus. They have all the tools needed to shape and control people's mind. It is a fact that mainstream media is controlled and being fully utilized to serve this purpose. Thus, for all these years people have been made to believe that this country is indeed a democracy.
As what we have been told, being a democracy is so simple. As if u have election every 4 or 5 years.. then u r qualified to be labeled as a country that practices democracy. This kind of thought justifies the existence of some quarters who simply define democracy as election. In other words, democracy is equivalent to election or democracy is election! It's pathetic, but this is the reality. Perhaps we just have to face the fact that masses are apathy, ignorant and malleable. That's the reason any discourse on democracy has always been "election-centric". As if election is the only element of democracy. It's either the people don’t know, they refuse to know or being denied their rights to know that democracy is more that a periodic election. A country that never have held any election could be more democratic that a country that has election every 4 or 5 years.
At the moment, half of Malaysian population has probably realized that democracy is not only about election. Democracy touches everything concerning the life and matters of the state. It is about good-governance, press freedom, impartiality, equality and many more. Hence, it hurts to accept the fact that election is the ONLY option available to exercise democracy. To make it worse, the opportunity that we Malaysians can enjoy every 4 or 5 years itself is far from being FREE & FAIR. As most of the scholars said, the playing field is not level.
So, what a big deal when an MP vacant her seat to allow her husband contests in that impending by-election? If you appreciate democracy, you wouldn’t see it as a waste. Permatang Pauh electorates are lucky as they've been given with more than one time (in a year) to have an opportunity to participate in decision-making process of this country. In a more serious tone, this by-election is not only important for the Permatang Pauh electorates but also for all Malaysians. The voters from that constituency will probably represent to the voices of Malaysia (IF AND ONLY IF THE IMPENDING BY-ELECTION IS FREER AND FAIRER).
Thus, how can we say that having this by-election is a waste? It may be a waste if we are in America or in Switzerland. In which there are 3 types of elections (federal level) in the USA. Namely, presidential election (definitely every 4 years), Congressional (every 2 years) and Senatorial (every 6 years). Elections are continuously being held in that particular country. In Switzerland, at average there are more that 80 referendums being held annually! Alas there's no such thing as wasteful when it comes to exercising and practicing democracy.
When the other avenues of democracy are not in placed... Then the by-election in Permatang Pauh is definitely significant. It is one avenue that may open the other avenues....
However, this particular issue forces me to really question back what is democracy? What are the institutions or elements of democracy? Or what is "lay-man's" definition of democracy in Malaysia? And what is people's perception towards democracy in this country? Nowadays people keep on saying about perception.... (Actually I hate bandwagoning, but this time I don’t have much option.)This is my perception. This is how I look at the way majority of Malaysians perceive democracy, the way they define democracy and the reasons to see Malaysia as a democracy.
In my point of view, people’s perception is rather a top-down process than otherwise. As the people or masses are malleable, people’s perception is something that can be easily constructed, deconstructed and reconstructed. Obviously it's the roles of ruling elites who are well-equipped with authority and apparatus. They have all the tools needed to shape and control people's mind. It is a fact that mainstream media is controlled and being fully utilized to serve this purpose. Thus, for all these years people have been made to believe that this country is indeed a democracy.
As what we have been told, being a democracy is so simple. As if u have election every 4 or 5 years.. then u r qualified to be labeled as a country that practices democracy. This kind of thought justifies the existence of some quarters who simply define democracy as election. In other words, democracy is equivalent to election or democracy is election! It's pathetic, but this is the reality. Perhaps we just have to face the fact that masses are apathy, ignorant and malleable. That's the reason any discourse on democracy has always been "election-centric". As if election is the only element of democracy. It's either the people don’t know, they refuse to know or being denied their rights to know that democracy is more that a periodic election. A country that never have held any election could be more democratic that a country that has election every 4 or 5 years.
At the moment, half of Malaysian population has probably realized that democracy is not only about election. Democracy touches everything concerning the life and matters of the state. It is about good-governance, press freedom, impartiality, equality and many more. Hence, it hurts to accept the fact that election is the ONLY option available to exercise democracy. To make it worse, the opportunity that we Malaysians can enjoy every 4 or 5 years itself is far from being FREE & FAIR. As most of the scholars said, the playing field is not level.
So, what a big deal when an MP vacant her seat to allow her husband contests in that impending by-election? If you appreciate democracy, you wouldn’t see it as a waste. Permatang Pauh electorates are lucky as they've been given with more than one time (in a year) to have an opportunity to participate in decision-making process of this country. In a more serious tone, this by-election is not only important for the Permatang Pauh electorates but also for all Malaysians. The voters from that constituency will probably represent to the voices of Malaysia (IF AND ONLY IF THE IMPENDING BY-ELECTION IS FREER AND FAIRER).
Thus, how can we say that having this by-election is a waste? It may be a waste if we are in America or in Switzerland. In which there are 3 types of elections (federal level) in the USA. Namely, presidential election (definitely every 4 years), Congressional (every 2 years) and Senatorial (every 6 years). Elections are continuously being held in that particular country. In Switzerland, at average there are more that 80 referendums being held annually! Alas there's no such thing as wasteful when it comes to exercising and practicing democracy.
When the other avenues of democracy are not in placed... Then the by-election in Permatang Pauh is definitely significant. It is one avenue that may open the other avenues....
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