I refer to the Malaysiakini report Najib: Not the time for another by-election .

There have been a number of signs to show that some parties are whipping up election phobia! Look at the signs:

1. Election wastefulness: Of the RM33.4 million said to be used for organising the past five by-elections, actually the bulk of it was used by the police-to the tune of RM31 million.

The rational thing to do then is to cut the police costs. The `security' services provided by them can be cut down drastically if party supporters on nomination and polling day can be managed differently.

For example, if there are longer nomination and objection periods - say one week instead of the one hour currently, party supporters can hold their rallies separately and more peacefully - and thus requiring much less police presence.

Then anyone remember the moratorium on campaigning on polling day? There is a ban on campaigning on polling day but almost everyone ignores and violates the law in this country. This is inexcusable for law makers to do as they are violating their own laws.

To put the point more accurately - these are desperadoes! Politicians should build their appeal and reputations over longer periods of service and legislative profile establishment.

To think that their winning could depend on a change of votes on the few hours at the polling stations is an insult to the voters' intelligence! Someone may need to do a poll to locate the rare voters who change their vote between the moment they reach a polling station and at the end of the queue for casting their vote.

2. There is a `election fatigue'. Voters all welcome elections because it is their right to choose their leaders through the ballot box. It is the lack of this recourse that frustrate voters.

When an election come along, voters are showered with development goodies such as newly tarred roads, new lamp posts etc. When an election comes, the candidates will walk house-to- house to beg for the voters' support.

Materially and psychologically the voters are made to feel like the `boss' during an election. What a shot to the voters' ego when at most other times they are ignored by the government, whichever party in power.

Similarly the media, the bloggers, the shop keepers, the suppliers of food, campaign materials etc all welcome elections. So, who has this `fatigue' of elections?

3. There are too many elections? What? Elections should be a normal affair to enable a society to decide/choose its representatives. There should be elections at all levels in Malaysia.

But already we are deprived of local elections - which would have made elections a more frequent experience for the citizens.

Unless we are contented with representatives appointed by some `higher-ups' a la ‘Big Brother' all of society prefers their voices to be heard especially on such a crucial matter as choosing their leaders.

So there cannot be too many elections - just like there cannot be too many dinners and meetings.

The experience that the people's voice do matter is an empowering experience and allows society to improve by way of the citizens improving on their choices.

Enough of this election phobia! Let's get on with elections in Penanti, in the kampung, in local government etc.