Your loss if you don’t vote
I FEEL it is my civic duty to call and appeal to Malaysians to come out and vote in the coming 14th General Elections. In some African countries people are literally dying to be able to cast a ballot and make a political difference.
In 2014, it was reported a record number of women in Afghanistan turned out to vote when given the opportunity, often risking their lives.
I specifically appeal to the youth to not only participate in this elections but also to make an impact. The sad reality is that the percentage of eligible youth who actually register and vote is small when compared with other demographics. The biggest election issues often directly affect all of us especially the youth. They are the rising cost of living, tolls, education funding, job training programmes, employment opportunities, the conduct of anti-poverty programmes, healthcare system, environmental concerns and discriminatory laws are just a few of the current hot topics that directly affect the quality of your life right now. If you do not vote, you kiss away your ability to have any influence as to how these play out.
The only way democracy works is if citizens, young and old, participate.
Yes, a government by the people, for the people just can’t work without the people. Just like a car without an engine, democratic elections without voters do not work. It will lead to instability and ultimately political crisis, anarchy or chaos in the future.
Also you have to remember that as an individual your vote may seem to be little more than a whisper but when your vote is combined with the votes of others who share your views it becomes a voice and the more like-voters there are the louder that voice grows. One obvious case where one or two votes really counted was the 2004 results for the state seat of Kemuning in Kelantan. The candidate from PAS Zakaria Yaacob obtained 6078 votes whilst his Barisan Nasional Datuk Wan Mohamad Zin Mat Amin managed 6076 votes. Thus he won by a mere majority of two votes.
It must also be mentioned that higher turnout makes our democracy more representative.
By voting you will be able to choose candidates who suit your views and who will have to represent your views at state and federal level. Furthermore if you know your preferred candidate will win, your vote will add to his margin of victory and enable him to advance his agenda later.
On the other hand, if the candidate you loathe or dislike is set to win in a landslide, you can make a dent in his margin of victory. Normally, this will effectively encourage him to promote a more balanced and moderate policies. Your vote will also show a demand for other political parties to be represented.
You should remember that it’s your money through various taxes that the Federal, State government and the Municipality are spending. It is you that should decide who and how the money is spent. If you don’t vote you really have no right to complain about government decisions you don’t like.
If you do not vote you quite literally don’t count. We should vote because we can.
Yes, a government by the people, for the people just can’t work without the people. Just like a car without an engine, democratic elections without voters do not work.
MOHAMED MOKHTAR AHMAD BAJUNID Seremban