A race in which voters can be the real winners
SOME people think of an election as a race. There are clear parallels. Both are about two or more persons competing against each other to cross the finish line with the best result.
In a race, victory goes to he with the fastest time. In Malaysia’s firstpast-the-post voting system, the election candidate for a constituency who polls the most votes, wins the contest.
A racer and an election candidate are chasing rewards. Race champions earn medals, trophies, money, ranking points, bragging rights and sometimes, the attention of companies offering product endorsement deals.
An electoral triumph gives the winner the honour and privilege of representing his constituency in the Dewan Rakyat or the state legislative assembly. His seat counts in determining whether his party forms the federal or state government.
But an election is not the climax of the democratic process. It is not the final showdown that everybody has been preparing for. It is part of a cycle and is not an end in itself – or at least, it should not be. Securing a seat only marks the start of a fiveyear job as a wakil rakyat. It is the same obligation for the federal and state governments.
In this GE14 campaign period, we may feel like we are watching an amazing race, but let us keep in mind that the general election is, in fact, our show. Voters make the most crucial decisions on May 9. The politicians and parties have been vying for our support, and those among us who vote will shape the outcome come polling day.
We take videos and photographs of the candidates in action and we share them with friends and family. We want to hear and read what the politicians and other election players have to say. And of course, their words and conduct have a bearing on how we vote. But the focus should be on us as well.
Every general election is a long, hard stare into the mirror. We are called upon to look inward and ponder our relationships with the nation and fellow Malaysians. We need to ask ourselves questions and probe deep for firm, earnest answers. The biggest question is this: What do we want Malaysia to be over the next five years and beyond?
That is the importance of voting in our general elections. Yes, we may not have before us a menu of flawless options, but who has? We choose for our respective constitu- encies and we accept what the majority wants. After that, we remain vigilant and work hard to ensure that our representatives and the federal and state governments do what they are supposed to do. That is democracy.
Maybe not all of us have a sense of the power that lies in the hands of voters, but we must acknowledge that we do wield that power. If we fail to realise that, we are unlikely to use that power responsibly and effectively.
The results of GE14 must reflect a strong participation of voters, for it is a terrible thing to squander the power of the vote.