COMMENT | UndiBanjir: Regretful but voters must come out in large numbers

COMMENT | The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) expresses regret that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has made a request for early dissolution of the Parliament, which the King conventionally always grants assent.

Now, the Election Commission (EC) must call for polling to take place within 60 days.

Bersih reiterates our view that it is irresponsible to risk life and property loss for a dubious claim of achieving political stability.

The authorities, including the EC, may be forced to halt the 15th general election (GE15) in areas affected by floods, or if too many areas are affected, suspend it nationwide.

Bersih praises the stand taken by six state governments that they would not simultaneously dissolve their state legislatures this time as they want to prioritise flood relief efforts.

The states are those controlled by Pakatan Harapan (Harapan) - Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan, as well as PAS-controlled Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.

The six states should negotiate and announce a common dissolution date between June 25 (automatic dissolution date for Selangor) and Aug 1 (Penang) to set the new constitutional convention of full-term assembly and to avoid the public having to guess the next election dates.

Bersih also regrets that GE15 is called before Budget 2023 is passed. It's an utter contempt of Parliament when "candies" in the budget are dangled before the public as election goodies of the PM's party even as it did not go through parliamentary debates to scrutinise its merits and costs.

Furthermore, Bersih is concerned that regardless of whichever parties come to power, they would need to table the budget again, be it the same or a different one.

This may become a crisis point, resulting in the collapse of the new government if the budget is voted down by its coalition partners.

Amidst the double risks related to the flood and budget, Bersih calls upon all voters to come out to vote.

A high turnout can give legitimacy to the 15th Parliament where the MPs elected are truly representing the majority of their constituents, and the new government formed can be assured that the majority of eligible voters support them.

Bersih calls on the EC to immediately open up the postal voting application to all overseas Malaysians and give absentee voting rights to East Malaysians living in the Peninsula, as well as West Malaysians living in the Borneo territories.

These measures could potentially enfranchise up to 2.5 million eligible voters.

Besides voting, Malaysians should demand political parties and contestants commit themselves to key institutional reforms to stabilise politics after GE15.

Amongst the most important ones are reforms to the Attorney General’s Chambers and public funding of political parties.

The statement was issued by the steering committee of Bersih.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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