VOTING & DEMOCRACY

So, we're going to the polls on March 08. That's for the 12th time in our nation's history. It'll be my umpteenth time since 1969. Those were the good old days when the real form of democracy existed. I mean, you know, election campaigns where the contestants and their party leaders will hold public speeches.

I remember our Bapa Malaysia speaking at the Kuantan Town Padang during the 1969 GE. That's the year when MCA had some internal problems and any no-body could have won the seat against the MCA guy in Kuantan. One lawyer from outside Pahang stood on I think Party Rakyat ticket and won. Simply because the disgruntled MCA members voted for him.

But it was fun - the Tunku was a good entertainer with his light-hearted speeches. Others too took the opportunity to get across their messages with jokes and stories. Of cos, I mustn't fail to mention the film show before the political bigwigs arrived. The Information Department would screen films produced by Pathe News as well as their own on what the Government had achieved.

Elections are a bore now. Police permits must be obtained for rallies. Then again we fear that such rallies could turn violent. Sad isn't it? After 50 years of democracy, we still can't hold public gatherings to get across our message. I was quite amused to read that women in Jakarta gathered in front of Parliament building to protest against price increases earlier this year. And they were armed - with pots and pans and woks and created quite a din to draw attention to their plight as wives and mothers who put food on the table so to to speak. Well, democracy seems to thrive well across the Straits of Melaka after more than three decades of tight-fisted rule by the late President Suharto.

Now, the all important question of casting votes. I was with a group of neighbours one evening. The chat turned to the upcoming polls. Surpisingly, quite a few said they were not registered to vote. And they are the educated middle class! Others said they will not be casting their votes. Reason? They were not happy with the situation - political, business, etc. Hey, that's not democracy! In a democracy you make your choice - for or against. I suppose they "do not want to bite the hand that feeds them" by not voting for the opposition. I don't subscribe to that kind of thinking. For me, I always make a choice.

Democracy is a Greek word meaning "rule by the people". The candidates we vote in must never get into their heads that they are the masters once elected. No, they are the peoples' servants. The people are the masters. So, if we don't excercise our right to vote, then we can't blame others if the wrong person gets elected - a person without principle for example. One who cheats, one who accepts bribes, one who threatens the very people who are his master!

I must also express my indignation at money politics. And here I include within the term "money politics", all the handouts by the Government after Parliament has been dissolved. The Government is really a care-taker government and should have no right to dish out goodies. The same goes for control over the media. When bloggers write all kind of stuff in the numerous blogs which have cropped up, it's due to the fact that they have no outlet to voice their discontent. When politicians of the ruling parties deride, threaten and call names, bloggers are actually being encouraged to go even further. Maybe the media can create avenue for the opposition to put forward their messages. Hey, after 50 years, aren't Malaysians matured and educated enough to make decisions?