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May I congratulate the new Election Commission (EC) chairperson Mohd Hashim Abdullah on his recent promotion to this prestigious and onerous post.

I am sure that most voters will also laud him loudly for giving his fresh independent insights on how we can modernise the Electoral Commission and the electoral process. We need radical reforms to a somewhat stale electoral system that urgently needs recharging.

Indeed Hashim has started on the right foot. He has stated publicly that he might be introducing some electoral changes to be on par with electoral systems enjoyed by more mature developed countries. And why not? After all we are a mature and advanced developing country on the threshold of becoming a developed nation, if we achieve our target date of 2020. Thus we have to be consistent and reform our election system accordingly.

Time and timing for reforms

The time and timing for electoral reforms and the revamp of the Election Commission and the election system are excellent.

Firstly, the time to reform is opportune, since we have a brand new EC chairperson. He is blessed with the challenge and the opportunity and the amanah (trust) to improve the image and public perception of the Election Commission, whose reputation as an independent, free and fair institution had raised some doubts in the past.

Secondly, the next general election (G14) is due by 2018. The time therefore is certainly not too far away, especially given the enormous preparations required by the EC and all its branches all over the country. Hence any electoral reforms must be subject to careful and expeditious studies early enough.

Unlike in the past, the more sophisticated Malaysian electorate, aided by the rapid communications brought about by the Internet, will want to participate more actively and comprehensively in the introduction of any new proposed reforms that may hopefully improve but not inhibit the electoral process.

What are the possible reforms?

There are many new and radical reforms that are required to modernise our old electoral system. Some proposed fundamental changes are as follows:

1. Compulsory voting - it is disconcerting to note the EC chairperson’s statement that although we have 13.3 million voters in our country, only 11.3 millions or 85 percent exercise their right to vote. That is, I think, irresponsible and apathetic on their part. These indifferent and careless registered voters do us all a great disservice as fellow Malaysian citizens. They must be taught that good citizenship entails rights as well as responsibilities, as they should know.

Hence the proposal to introduce compulsory voting will I believe be most welcome by the vast majority of right-thinking Malaysians.

I would actually urge the EC chairperson to give this vital issue top priority in the EC studies and recommendations to the government.

2. Automatic registration - again , it is frustrating to learn that over 4 million eligible Malaysians have not registered to vote.

This fact shows a total lack of responsibility as citizens. These recalcitrant citizens will give all kinds of excuses as to why they have not registered to vote. They constitute a large proportion of our youth who should know much better. However, they are the first people who will be complaining all the time about one problem or another and do little about helping to solve our many problems.

So if these 4 million potential voters do not appreciate their right and privilege to vote and the opportunity to improve our well-being, then they should be also required to register as voters and become better citizens, or pay a penalty, if they do not register to vote. We cannot allow such a large proportion of our voters, who may amount to about 25 percent of eligible voters, to undermine our electoral system and our democratic development and progress.

3. Delineation of constituencies - this constitutional requirement has been fulfilled in Sarawak and hence Sarawak is moving steadily onto elections

But Sabah and peninsula Malaysia should follow suit - and as soon as possible. But so far, we the public have not heard much on this sensitive score.

The people will soon want to know why we have not been consulted and when the delineation process will roll on, at the grassroots ground level? I understand from past experience that the delineation process can be very challenging and can take at least a good six months to unwind on the ground.

There is a whole tedious but essential electoral process, of reviews and consultations and also public hearings. Sometime this process can go on for more than six months, depending on how acceptable and fair the delineation exercise turns out to be.

The nest general election need not wait for 2018. They can be held earlier, to take into account the political turmoil, uncertainty and disunity that we all know we are now facing.

Rallies, demonstrations and signature campaigns and protest marches have their respective and respected roles in any lively free, open democracy. But there are serious limitations, especially when the elements of the concept of ‘state capture’ are perceived to prevail in any democratic society.

Hence the earlier the next general election is held, the better, It will be beneficial to the people (rakyat), the nation, and the government of the day.

Thus is paramount that the new chairperson and the Election Commission as a whole to decide to start the delineation exercise for Sabah and particularly for the significantly more electoral constituencies in peninsula Malaysia.

Conclusion

This is a golden opportunity for the new EC chairperson Hashim Abdullah to:

i) Revamp the EC to improve its public perception and its claims that it is independent and that it conducts fully free and fair elections.

ii) Help the government to prove to our people first and then the world that we are indeed a mature democracy that encourages free and fair elections for all its citizens.

iii) Prove to all Malaysians and the rest of the world , that our government is truly voted into power by the people and for the people and therefore enjoys the full confidence of the rakyat. This will enable the government and our beloved country to progress with peace, prosperity, stability and genuine national unity, on a sustainable basis, for the long term.


RAMON NAVARATNAM is chairperson of Asli/Centre of Public Policy Studies.

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