One could debate whether it was a rational decision for the British to vote to leave the EU, but one cannot question that the electors were well informed on the advantages and disadvantages of that decision. In contrast Malaysians make irrational voter decisions in an environment of almost complete ignorance.

Seemingly, neither politicians nor voters have any idea of how to address the issues facing this country. So, here is my list of some of the things Malaysians should be demanding that their political parties answer.

Electoral Reform: Will the party commit to: A complete overhaul of the electoral system within the first three years of winning power. To include an Electoral Commission elected by the people, free from parliamentary influence. A complete realignment of electoral boundaries to reflect a one-vote one-value philosophy.

Serious consideration should be given to: Automatic enrolment, compulsory voting and electronic voting to reduce the chances of electoral fraud. The party should commit to local government elections within its first term in office

Constitution: Within the first term of the government will the party commit to a review of the constitution carried out by a non-parliamentary committee elected by the people. The revised constitution to be adopted by the people of Malaysia and not by parliament. A review should exclude the concept of Malay rights, replace it with Malaysian rights and reduce the role of royalty to that of a figurehead with no decision-making powers.

Labour management: Will the party commit irrevocably to an ongoing programme of downsizing the public service, eliminating the need for foreign workers and improving the status and standing of Malaysians in the workforce through education, retraining and a fair wage for a fair days work and improved working conditions? Will the party commit to supporting the development of unions so that they may serve the role of protecting workers?

These changes will inevitably involve innovation and upgrading in the workplace to keep Malaysia competitive in a global market.

Public service: Will the party commit to the ongoing reorganisation of the public service. The serviice should be the powerhouse of Malaysian development, responsible for long-term planning and vision, for the day-to-day management of the nation and for the checks and balances necessary to maintain a principled and ethical nation.

All functions of the public service should be free of parliamentary influence. Ministers (and cabinet) should not have any decision-making power, all decisions being made by full parliament. Will the party commit to an advisory committee for each government department made up of academics and practitioners, half elected by the department itself and half nominated by the minister. Party commitment will be needed to face the reality of downsizing, retraining, re-educating redundent public servants and supporting their transfer into commercial industry.

Will the party commit to a public service free of religion and race biases, with references to the religion and race eliminated from all government dealings with the people. All public service positions should be publicly advertised, applications should be made free of identifiers (race, religion, sex, age) and selection should be made by multi-racial committees

Resource security: Will the party commit to long-term planning of food, water, energy and environmental security? Malaysian agriculture is appallingly inefficient and need major efficiency and diversity changes. Malaysia needs a long-term plans for water security, both in the storage and distribution but also in flood mitigation and flood management strategies.

What plans does the party have for the restoration and protection of Malaysia’s river systems? What is the party’s long-term vision on energy supply and consumption, renewable energy, nuclear energy? What is the party’s thinking on the phasing out over the next 10 years of timber harvesting from old growth forest and replacing it with timber production from plantation forestry?

What is the party’s thinking on air-tight protection of environmentally important areas so that they are protected and preserved for all time

Corruption: It’s my understanding that the checks and balances necessary for an efficient and ethical public service are already in existence. The problem is they are not working effectively and are to exposed to political influence. One of the main weaknesses in the system is that individuals are making decisions.

Will the party to commit to a regime where the existing systems are strengthened and empowered and answerable to Parliament and not to one minister? Will the party commit to decision-making by committee, the larger the contract the larger the committee? Committees should be made up of technocrats and bureaucrats and not politicians.

The bigger the contract the bigger the committee and for all big contracts the committees should be anonymous, both of each other and to the public. The results of committee deliberations should be collated by a computer.

For day-to-day policing, all policing officers should be fitted with voice recording devices. In the case of a bribe being offered, the officer would be rewarded with the amount of the bribe and the briber fined twice the amount of the bribe. Where an officer is guilty of asking for a bribe the result will be instant dismissal.

So, start thinking Malaysia. There is more to come.