By Greg Lopez
In academic circles, Malaysia is categorised as a dysfunctional democracy. In this context, the electoral process is used to legitimate the BN’s authoritarian rule and not as a means to elect a representative government.
Government strictures limit the ability of Malaysians to make an informed decision and opposition parties to compete on equal footing. Despite these limitations, electoral competitions throw surprises as reflected in the third, eighth, tenth and twelfth general elections.
In preparing for the thirteenth general election, it is important to identify the key factors that create these surprising electoral results. The analysis of Malaysia’s history of electoral competition raises several key focal points that Malaysians should be aware.
BN’s 53 year rule has destroyed the concept of “separation of powers”, the hallmark of a health democracy. Hence, Malaysians cannot appeal to an impartial judiciary to interpret the constitution; a police force to impartially enforce the rule of law; a professional civil service that acts in the interest of the nation; or the media to provide a balanced view of the issues. Any action outside the electoral competition is easily neutralised by the heavy hand of the government. Sporadic actions, such as demonstrations; handing over of petitions/memorandum; initiating legal action or appealing to other legal means; using the alternative media – while important to inform voters – has limited effect in ensuring immediate democratic outcomes.
However a strong result for the opposition sees the ruling party scrambling to win back lost ground by delivering – at least on some of – the demands of the rakyat. Hence, Malaysians must realise the importance of electoral competition in achieving democratic outcomes and participate fully in it.
At the 12th general election, there were approximately 11 million voters on the electoral role but the number of eligible voters (based on age) was approximately 15 million. Hence, any coalition that can register these 4 million Malaysians (approximately 27 percent of total eligible voters) and convince them to support their cause increases their chances at the ballot box significantly.
Secondly, in a typical general election, the average voter turnout is between 70 to 75 percent.
Any coalition that can increase this percentage in voter turnout also improves its chances of winning especially in marginal seats. As example, the Human Rights Party notes that close to 0.5 million Malaysians of Indian heritage are not registered voters. Malaysians of Indian heritage are critical in several marginal seats and can sway the outcome as demonstrated in the 12th general election.
Initiatives such as Voter Get Voter, registration exercise by the Election Commission, political parties and civil society movements are all crucial in ensuring the most number of eligible voters participate in the electoral competition.
BN always formidable
Fifty-three years of chicanery has made BN an expert at manipulating the electoral competition. Such is the sophistication that the international community while voicing concerns over several electoral practises, still endorses Malaysia’s electoral results.
Therefore, the BN should not be taken lightly at all even when it seems that it is weak. Its use of the ‘3M’ (machinery – party and government; money and the media) ensures that it goes into any election with tremendous advantages.
These include granting salary increments for civil servants, generous donations to ethnic, religious and special interest groups, announcement of development projects, government contracts to political warlords and BN friendly captains of industries, assurance and/or concessions to key stakeholders especially the chambers of commerce and cultural rights group.
This process essentially coopts representatives of the various communities and special interests groups -who then deliver the votes to BN.
The mainstream media has traditionally been crucial in spreading misinformation and destroying the credibility of the opposition.
How can this can be stopped as Malaysians aspire to higher principles and not limit themselves to only ‘bread and butter issues’ and reject blatant ‘corrupt’ practises mentioned above and reject the mainstream media outright.
Malapportionment, gerrymandering
A method that the BN has ‘almost’ perfected in ensuring electoral victory is malapportionment and gerrymandering. The table below indicates that although the disparity in popular votes between BN and the opposition is often narrow, it is magnified when it comes to actual number of seats in Parliament – a result of malapportionment and gerrymandering.
On a positive note, the opposition, despite its limitations, have on four different occasions collected more than 45 percent in popular vote suggesting that BN is not invincible. On the negative side, it suggests that the opposition will have to win by at least 60 percent to secure a majority in Parliament.
The opposition can turn the tables on BN if it can make inroads into Sabah and Sarawak and the south of Peninsular Malaysia. Since the 1999 election, BN has increasingly relied on Johor, Sabah and Sarawak to deliver them.
Therefore, two actions are needed. Firstly, it is important to level the playing field before the elections. Here, the works of civil society movements such as Bersih and Mafrel have been crucial. More importantly, forward planning by the opposition parties to limit BN’s abuse of the electoral process is crucial.
Ensuring that Najib does not have the super-majority in Parliament is critical to stop further re-delineating of electoral boundaries to suit BN. Furthermore, highlighting the blatant abuse of power by the Election Commission and rectifying it is also important.
Secondly, Peninsular Malaysians and Sabah and Sarawakians should reach out to each other. The common enemy is not each other but the BN-led Federal government.
Here the excellent work of Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia and the historical pact between marginalised minorities in Malaysia represented by Hindraf and several indigenous communities of Sabah and Sarawak is critical in fostering a common understanding on the issues affecting Malaysians.
Opposition coalition quality
On four occasions, the opposition parties worked together – either by having a gentlemen’s agreement not to contest each other as in 1969 or more formal alliance as in 1990, 1999 and 2008.
While the stellar performance of the opposition parties in these elections cannot be attributed solely to the electoral pact, it is by no means an important strategy. The Malaysian political terrain is such that no party on its own can expect to do well.
Pakatan Rakyat will have to move beyond a common manifesto and electoral pacts to demonstrate to the electorate that it is indeed a ‘government-in-waiting.’
Secondly, the quality of the members of the opposition coalition will need to be improved. It cannot rely on social activists alone and must be able to attract prominent members of society from different age groups and professions.
This will signal its broad appeal to the general public. Malaysians of high standing should at the same time take a stand and put their names in support of the opposition coalition to break the monopoly that only BN has the support of Malaysia’s elite.
It is therefore critical that Pakatan Rakyat demonstrate to the general public that it is not only capable of administrating the nation but also resolving the key issues facing the nation by having a competent line-up.
If the four focal issues stated above can be addressed, then time specific issues such as economic performance, race and religious issues, quality of life issues, governance etc can be presented within a better framework and reach a wider audience.
Then, it is likely that the BN would be His Majesty’s loyal opposition after the 13th general election.
GREG LOPEZ is a postgraduate scholar at the Crawford School of Economics and Government, Australian National University (ANU).