Over-politicised political campaign

These strategies and approaches are being adopted by political parties on both sides. While a popularist approach might be attractive, it does great disservice and damage to the political process. Malaysians must show their displeasure with what is being adopted by political parties and call on political leaders and candidates to articulate the substantive issues of governance and why they deserve our vote.

Denison Jayasooria, The Malay Mail

POLITICAL party strategists are free to be creative and innovative in drawing voters.

As we get closer to GE13 we are seeing worrying trends which we must resist and call upon politicians from both the political divide to focus on the core issues and not divert to what could be called unhealthy approaches

We are seeing the trend towards entertainment such as spicy dance girls and engaging popular foreign artists.

We also see others approaching political campaigning with incitement of burning religious scriptures, the justification for two-third majority to deny individuals of citizenship. Yet others are giving out numerous goodies through public funds in an unsustainable and short term focus only.

These strategies and approaches are being adopted by political parties on both sides. While a popularist approach might be attractive, it does great disservice and damage to the political process.

Malaysians must show their displeasure with what is being adopted by political parties and call on political leaders and candidates to articulate the substantive issues of governance and why they deserve our vote.

Recently at the Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference organised by ASLI Malaysia I highlighted five general trends toward GE13 which have long-term damaging effects. It is often said that politicians are just concern for short term either capturing power or retaining it.

As responsible citizens, we must call on all political parties and potential candidates to focus on the real issues and not be distracted by side shows.

Trend 1 — Politicisation of race and religion The worrying trend is the increasing reference to race and religion in political speeches. Here we see the incitement to burning bibles on one side and another is the poster war of political faces at Thaipusam. These are not election posters but non-Muslims seeking to ride on a religious festival through popularity or crowd catching.

Concern has been expressed by the silence of political leaders linked to the Federal administration especially on extremely sensitive issues like incitement to burn bibles. The efforts by Kelantan chief minister in visiting the Penang Catholic Bishop and the efforts by civil society to re-agenda the burning of bibles to reading the bible are brilliant efforts by society to defuse the issues in the spirit of moderation, tolerance and appreciation.

However these efforts were not initiated by Federal linked officials nor were there any action by the authorities. It is essential to reaffirm certain parameters for political talk and action. Malaysia has reached a stage of political maturity that we must focus on substantive political discourse and not a cheap fling on emotive aspects.

Trend 2 — Politicisation of welfare and assistance There is a battle on the ground to give out short term, dependency driven cash hand-outs which is unsustainable. Federal and state politicians are using public funds to induce a culture of dependency which is unhealthy

Trend 3 — Politicisation of the administration Federal and state officials and machinery are being used for political purposes. While ministers and Exco members officiate functions, the events are more like election campaigning. In some situations funds are being channelled via NGOs or voluntary oganisations to the grassroots. Its recipients are not broad base but focused on supporters or linked to political leaders.

There is a thin line here between services and political favouritism. We must as citizens demand that all public sector agencies at all levels of government at Federal, state and local government must be A-political and politically neutral, serving all its citizens irrespective of political affiliation or association.

Trend 4 — Politicisation of Election Commission

While the Election Commission (EC) has taken efforts to explain the situation such as the reliability of the voter list, the recent Sabah Royal Commission of Inquiry via the statement of witnesses is impacting the credibility and neutrality of the agencies involved especially the schemes to enlarge the voter base through granting of citizenship to establishment favouring citizenship seekers from neighbouring countries.

There is much distrust and it will be helpful for EC to work closely with civil society such as Bersih and Transparency International to enhance its image rather than seeing these public interest citizens based networks as just anti-establishment.

The EC appointment of Election observers under tight conditions have not instilled greater public confidence. The conditions and type of organisations accredited must be reviewed so as to regain public confidence.

However the matter for long-term structural change is the way EC commissioners are appointed. It must be a transparent and independent process with non-former civil servants appointed in contrast to the current composition.

Trend 5 — Politisation of public discourse and media coverage

Political discourse is most often propaganda style with mainstream media focused on pro administration and the social media for alternative views. While there has been a number of public debates, this approach is not popular among the politicians in a face to face debate. A majority shy away from these and those from the current administration.

The very propaganda style is not good for the best interest of the citizen.

The citizen-voter must be able to hear what the policies and provisions are in a calm and conducive environment. There must be a lively debate and interaction on issues pertaining to good governance, economic growth and equitable distribution, accountability and human rights compliance

The real test is why any political party or candidate should secure a vote. The politicians must explain why. They must from all side focus on the substantive concerns and make a commitment.

There must be a greater commitment for public reasoning. We must not treat the voter as uninterested in policy discussions and future trends of the nation. Some tends to treat voters as ignorant and only interested in hand-outs. The 2008 election results showed this was a wrong perspective. Malaysians are matured citizens who must insist that national interest and not personal interest is the character of the new politics. Some key policy areas of national concern which potential candidates must be able to answer are:

• What are your policies to ensure economic growth and equitable distribution whereby inequality is addressed?

• How would you ensure all-inclusive socio-economic development?

• How would you address issues pertaining to ethnic discrimination, abuse of power such as excessive use of force by enforcement and curtail corruption?

• How would you ensure all communities have their cultural and religious rights protected?

• How would you protect and promote human rights and strengthen the human rights institutions and accountability at the parliament level?

At the end of the day it is the citizen-voters, who set the agenda. They must not be passive and let these negative trends dominate Malaysian politics. They must set the agenda and ensure politicians and political parties are more accountable and treat the citizen-voter with greater respect and dignity

Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria is the Principal Research Fellow, Institute of Ethnic Studies (Kita), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) & secretary-general Proham (Society for the Promotion of Human Rights.