The Borneo Post
September 17, 2008
Editorial

Go back to the people

OUR political troubles aren’t over. And, we may be in for an even longer crisis that could lead into political chaos and adverse instability in our fragile multi-ethnic nation.We need a solution, an acceptable, near perfect and more lasting political solution; not one that could solve a problem but create a new nightmare at a time when political and economic difficulties and uncertainties are looming large over us and threatening to make life even more difficult for everyone — from the wage earner to the businessmen and investors and families striving to make ends meet throughout our diverse land.

Superfluous to say that it is imperative we fix our political problems using a more acceptable method that borders on democratic values which is more reflective of the wishes of the majority.

The current unprecedented political crisis that has given rise to a near political mess, does not seem to want to go away with no acceptable solution in sight. Not even if some BN MPs were to defect and cross over to Pakatan Rakyat (motivated by personal reasons, political reasons or promises of money and positions) to allow de facto opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to form the next federal government and become the new prime minister of the many ethnic communities thirsting for good governance.

Anxious Malaysians are witnessing an unacceptable situation where the incumbent prime minister, seemingly unpopular with his economic policies and actions, yet stays embattled with forces within his own party and ruling BN coalition.

By the same token, a weary and wary Malaysian public is not about to fully accept Pakatan Rakyat as the alternative front — unscrupulously and unashamedly trying to topple a democratically elected BN government by enticing and encouraging lawmakers from its ranks to defect to its side, knowing there is a significant section of the society who would show their disapproval.

A government formed through defections and crossovers as pursued relentlessly and with increasing vigour by Anwar, is equally despicable and devoid of democratic values and scruples, as it is without the people’s mandate.

Never mind if Anwar were to offer to hold fresh elections within six months to a year.

Ours is the first-past-the-post political democracy. Even if a party wins by one vote or one seat, it gets to rule. The losers will have to play the opposition role in parliament. When the March 8 general election concluded, the BN clearly secured more than a mandate to rule despite suffering massive seat losses and five states to Pakatan Rakyat.

Thus, there has been no total rejection of the BN (with 140 seats). And, there has been no total support and acceptance for Pakatan Rakyat (with 82 MPs) either. So, it might be wise if we go back to the people. Yes, ask the electorate for a clearer mandate not because the existing mandate is unclear.

Abdullah, who faces calls to step down, and has said he would by mid-2010, can mull the prospect of a new election to break the political impasse which threatens to further dilute the quality of life of each and every Malaysian. He ought to consider advising our King to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections.

We can resolve this political stalemate together, once and for all, instead of allowing it to drag on and frustrate us.

After all BN–ruled Negri Sembilan has signalled it would be willing to dissolve the state legislature if any of its elected representatives were to defect. What better way is there to resolve a political conflict?

By all standards and logic, wouldn’t it be better to go back to the people than to impose an emergency rule for instance, to arrest the slide to political chaos and instability. Wouldn’t it be a better choice to ask the people to decide anew instead of allowing Pakatan Rakyat to frustrate the mandate given earlier to BN? Political democracy is about the wishes of the people — certainly not Anwar’s or the BN’s. Even if the people have had enough of the BN’s “misuse and abuse” of power, they can respond to this through the ballot box which is legal and democratic.

No parties, no politicians, and no quarters should be afraid to face the people. Malaysian democracy after all is by the people, of the people and for the people and this political system has been in place for decades.

With a new round of elections, parliament when it reconvenes — it does not matter if neither the ruling nor the opposition commands a two-thirds majority — should enact an Anti-Hop or Anti-Defection Law to make it illegal to defect from a platform on which a lawmaker is elected.

If a lawmaker so wishes to resign for whatever reasons, it shall be bounden on him or her to first vacate the seat and allow a by-election to take place. Again, it is all about going back to the people who must decide. Fair enough if some of those in our midst are talking about giving Pakatan Rakyat and Anwar a try at power, but they must give the opposition the mandate through a properly held election.

Let the electorate decide if they want to continue the political revolt of March 8. Allow the people alone to tell through the ballot box if they want BN to continue ruling and not through any party or political machinations that are not in tandem with the democratic and electoral processes.

As the nation continues to pray and hope in earnest, for an end to the present predicament, one thing that is certain is that nothing can be so certain, not unless and until we seek the people’s participation in this business of governing.