Democracy is the true loser

The victor of the Batu Sapi and Galas elections is BN. What is not as apparent is that the true loser is ‘democracy’. Although all men are created equal, not all voters are equal.

If, like me, you are swayed by party policies, then be prepared for a shock. At grassroots level, these lofty ideals mean nothing to low-wage earners, market traders or single mothers.

Their main concerns are a sufficiency of jobs (unemployment), rubbish collection, schooling for their children, and the increase in prices of staple foods and basic commodities.  

The average voter cares little for environmental issues, empowering women, nuclear deterrents, global concerns, defence budgets, immigration policies, human rights or pollution control.

Anyone familiar with election campaigning knows that the wannabe MP is often the mediator between the civil servant and the electorate. Blocked drains, leaky water-pipes and bad roads take precedence over the election manifesto. The potential parliamentarian’s role is reduced to chasing inept civil servants who have neglected their duties.

The results of the 2008 general election (GE) reflected a mood of change sweeping the country and the rising influence of a media-dominated society. However, the opposition failed to maintain their advantage and still grapple with that outcome and political reality.

The crux of the matter is this: Many Malaysians fail to understand that a sizeable percentage of the electorate is unaware that it is the job of government to improve their lives and that taxes are supposed to be paid for the development and infrastructure of their area.

Few people realise that MPs serve the electorate and that the responsibility of government is to provide ample economic and educational opportunities, a safe community and healthy living conditions.

Malaysians are not politically mature and most have experience of BN rule only. BN tells them that life is ticked by little boxes based on religion and race. The lofty liberal ideas of the opposition have little impact on the average voter.

Resist urge to blame the electorate

The by-elections are over and as bystanders we must resist the urge to blame the electorate for voting in what many may consider a bad government. The people are not acting irresponsibly; they act thus because they have not been informed of their rights.  

BN knows the electorate much better than people give them credit for. Knowledge is power and BN has utilised this to maximum effect.
When it manipulates the electorate and influences them with brown envelopes, it makes the electorate think that BN is doing good works when all it is doing is fulfilling the minimum obligations of the government.

With several decades of experience, BN have honed their skills and analysed the psychological profiles of the voters. The party machinery and unlimited funds facilitate campaign preparations. They are committed and focus on the prize - the win.

PKR lacks all these. Instead, their internal factions are likened to two siblings squabbling over a bag of sweets. Whilst they are busy arguing, another person has swiped the whole lot from beneath their noses.

If PKR claims it wants to re-weave our social fabric, stabilise our judiciary, security, economy and democratic institutions, then they should explain the specifics of their policies. It is fallacious to say that Umno might nick these ideas. Why should Umno change the status quo?

The common man knows that BN is tried and tested. It matters little that the rotting bridge or pot-holed road are repaired the day before polling-day. BN’s promise is fulfilled - better late than never. The voter probably considers those brown envelopes as a reward for being patient.

BN allows the voter to fantasise. He may wallow in filth and poverty, but when he hears BN espouse Malaysia’s grand designs of towering skyscrapers, Malaysia’s astronaut, the Everest conquest or our submarines, a transformation takes place within him.

The voter is overcome with that feel-good factor. BN is their saviour. BN shows how Malaysia is no push-over in the world’s eyes.

The electorate may even despise PKR when it whinges that BN can ill-afford those billion-ringgit schemes, that Sheikh Muszaphar is a space-tourist, that our submarines float, that scaling Everest is de rigueur for adventure seekers.   

Older voters, traditionally BN supporters, grew up with BN. Their loyalty, allegiance and tolerance levels are high. The indoctrination by BN makes many perceive the opposition as “bad”. Sadly, despite emancipation, many women vote as their husbands instruct them.

Younger, enthusiastic voters are Internet and Facebook savvy.

Many are educated to college level and make up their own minds about voting. These future leaders can present a credible, formidable force and are usually opposition supporters. Hence, students are excluded from politics by the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971.

Failure to learn from painful lessons

Sadly, PKR has failed to learn from painful lessons of earlier by-elections. PKR is perceived as being in love with the idea of ‘the march to Putrajaya’. Press them for details regarding specific policies and the politicians are dumbstruck. It is alleged that suggestions, critiques or e-mails sent to PKR politicians are unanswered.

PKR risks looking like the American army which marched into Baghdad, then allowed Iraq to spiral into violence and disarray, because the Americans had no cohesive, cogent plan.

The danger with PKR setting high ideals and not fulfilling them is that people easily get disappointed.

Look at BN. People’s expectation of BN is so low that it is considered a bonus if BN does anything.

PKR courts disaster if they ignore the urban or the rural voter - each has different needs.

Overseas Malaysias are better informed than the rural folk about our political landscape. Both the delivery and the content of PKR’s message are important.

When people continue to vote BN despite the allegations of corruption, mismanagement and misrule, then PKR’s communication needs to be reviewed.

The opposition claims it visits rural areas - the kampungs and longhouses - but how often is this interaction? People warm to a familiar face, not someone who was transplanted for a specific reason. The occasional stellar appearance will not engender trust and commitment between the party and the electorate.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a non-conformist traditionalist from Perak, a bucket chemist and an armchair eco-warrior. In ‘real-speak’, this translates into that she comes from Ipoh, values change but respects culture, is a petroleum chemist and also an environmental pollution-control scientist.