All candidates in the coming state elections need to play by the rules and not jeopardise Malaysia’s multicultural society. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
THE six state elections are just around the corner. Although the assemblies were dissolved on different dates, it is believed that elections for these states will be held concurrently.
According to the Elections Act, once a state legislative assembly has been dissolved, state elections must be held within 60 days. As such, it is generally speculated that state elections will be held during the first or second weekend of August.
Last November, Malaysia witnessed the most intensely fought election ever in the country’s history, and it was also the first time ever we had an unprecedented situation in which not a single party or coalition managed to secure half of the parliamentary seats, resulting in a hung Parliament.
Soon after that, Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were locked in a fierce fight for power. Of course, we all know that Anwar succeeded in forming a unity government following his successful negotiations with Barisan Nasional and Sabah and Sarawak parties.
Even though the dust has since settled on the “war” that was the 15th General Election, the “green wave” initiated by Perikatan in the election has swept the long-established strongholds of Umno, posing a formidable threat to the unity government.
The two opposing forces have since been confronting each other over the past six months or so with sustained intensity. And the upcoming state elections will be a decisive battleground for both sides claiming supremacy over the other.
While the state elections involve only state administrations and in no way will affect the Federal Government theoretically, the Perikatan coalition has attempted to elevate the state elections to a higher level, to be some sort of referendum for the legitimacy of the unity government.
Perikatan chairman Muhyiddin has urged voters in these six states to support his coalition at the ballot box as a referendum for the approval rating of the unity government.
Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau has also made a similar statement.
Meanwhile, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the results of the six state elections would threaten the federal administration and that the collapse of the unity government is “not impossible”.
Again, this is the same trick as before to tie state elections to the federal administration in a bid to intensify the rivalry.
From the overall political atmosphere and the remarks and actions of political leaders of late, we can deduce that both the opposing camps do place a lot of emphasis on the coming state elections and will understandably exhaust their resources to clinch much-coveted victories. A fierce election war is most positively inevitable.
While the fight will be intense, it is hoped that the tactics employed by all parties will not go overboard.
Of course every contesting party wants to win, but in the process it is imperative that all contesting parties strictly adhere to the rules of the game and not abuse the country’s democratic system through foul tricks.
Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu has reminded parties taking part in the state election to contest in a good manner in order to show a good example to the rakyat. His Royal Highness also urged the parties to avoid derogatory and hateful remarks so as not to undermine solidarity and harmony.
At the same time, Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah also urged candidates and their supporters in the coming state election to conform to the regulations during the campaign period, carrying out campaign activities in a cautious and responsible manner while steering clear of sensitive racial and religious issues.
Now that both the rulers of Terengganu and Selangor have spoken up, shouldn’t our politicians get the point?
In the meantime, Home Minister Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has reminded all contesting parties to stay away from sensitive 3R issues – namely religion, royalty and race – during the upcoming state elections or the police will take stern actions against violators under the Sedition and the Communications and Multimedia Acts.
We have seen all these years that many politicians have flagrantly played up racial and religious issues to fan public sentiment and create hatred in a bid to win the vote. Such despicable political antics are destructive to our multicultural society, tearing up our society further and sending it to the brink of collapse.
In any mature democratic election, political parties and their leaders should compete with their rivals in their policies with their governance directions and strategies laid bare to convince the electorate to vote for them, not create hatred and confrontation by raising sensitive issues.
It is sincerely hoped that all candidates in the coming state elections will play by the rules and not jeopardise the foundation of the harmony of our multicultural society. – Sin Chew Daily/ANN
