A recent article in an online portal collected the views and opinions of a few personalities about Pakatan Harapan and the coming general election.

In the article, one of the six English-speaking, anti-establishment voters in their 20s and early 30s, stated that they either feel “disinclined about registering to vote” or may abstain from voting in the upcoming general election, mainly because they do not see “Harapan proposing substantive policies or promoting secularism.”

Another stated that “neither side deserves (his) vote” mainly because he did not believe in the policies proposed by Harapan, including repealing the GST, ways to provide free education, commitment in combating corruption, etc. He also saw no difference between Harapan and BN on several issues, including term limits of certain positions in the governmental and party hierarchy, as well as corrupt practices.

A first-time voter, like myself, expressed the probability of withholding her ballot due to the “racial-, money- and attack politics that exist in both BN and the opposition.” She reportedly felt that DAP is being racial in using “Chinese sentiments” to get people “emotional,” and that the opposition is only concerned about obtaining and keeping power.

Similar views and opinions were also collected from the other interviewees.

To summarise, there are two main concerns that need to be discussed: is Harapan any better than BN, and for those who believe in neither, is abstaining an option?

Is Harapan any better than BN?

I was pleased to see young Malaysians those in the article who are sceptical of the policies and manifestos offered by politicians. I have often stated that a society that is of high political literacy is defined by how much civic engagement prevails. There must be active discussion not just by the policymakers, but the members of the public on what the government or society is doing, whether we are on the right path, and how can we be made better off.

Of course, we can all have doubts about what each side offers. Harapan has its doubts about BN’s ways of implementing policies and conducting political practices – which is exactly why Harapan was formed. This is not simply office-seeking. We believe that only by changing the government at federal level, can our visions and our policies be materialised.

So the question is, can we prove that we are better than the current federal government? We can’t. Simply because we do not have track record running the federal government.

We have several comrades in Harapan, such as Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin, Mukhriz Mahathir and many others who have experience being in office. However, Harapan is a political coalition that vows to be different from BN. We cannot make our own projections on what kind of federal government we will be, merely based on our historical knowledge of these personalities when they were in power.

However, our track record running state governments in Selangor and Penang is a good indicator of the kind of government we aspire to become.

Before the opposition formed government in Selangor and Penang, many did not foresee the difference we could make in terms of infrastructure, water, transportation, state reserves, welfare, job opportunities and institutional reform that we have achieved.

Did anyone actually believe household water could be provided for free? Did anyone believe that the state government could offer more aid and distribution to the people while having more state reserves at the same time? Selangor and Penang did it. Records have proven that with responsible governing parties, such policies that benefit the people are definitely possible.

Sometimes, it is not presenting rocket science policies that will best help Malaysia. Simply by doing the job properly as a government is what it takes for Malaysia to prosper. But there is always a need for drastic policy change in order to truly help the people. One of these that has been widely debated is Harapan’s proposal of abolishing the GST.

I am in full agreement with one youth who said in the article that abolishing GST would do little for the more major concerns of unemployability and the high cost of living. Harapan’s proposal to abolish GST has nothing to do with the long-term effect on employability and cost of living, but it is an immediate reversal and relief to a burdening taxation system implemented by BN.

The issues on employability and cost of living need further and more comprehensive economic framework to solve. However, I cannot explain in detail all the policies implemented and proposals made by the opposition in one article. Therefore, I welcome any concerned Malaysians to attend forums and talks organised by Harapan or its component parties to discuss and perhaps debate any discrepancies in opinion.

Is abstaining an option?

I’m deeply concerned by what was stated by one youth in the article, who is of the opinion that voting is not the only way to affect a change in government. This thinking is not only naïve, but dangerous.

I presume what she and other Malaysians of the same opinion meant by “to affect a change in government” is affecting the policies adopted by the government, and to guide the behaviour of the government.

Political parties’ mandate to rule comes from the people, and the people are supposed to be free to continue or discontinue their trust in any party by exercising their votes in the general election. When the performance of the government is not satisfactory, people will vote them out and the other side will take over. This system offers a balance in power and adheres to the spirit of democracy.

But in Malaysia, this system does not actually exist in the form it should. In the 13th General Election, as a result of gerrymandering, BN formed the government with only 48 percent of the popular vote.

When even the voting system loses its powerful and robust function, we must never think that we can affect change in government by any other way. No NGOs, students’ movements, rallies or protests are as relevant in bringing about change when the ruling party cannot be voted out.

In fact, if there was a way other than voting to affect a change in government, many politicians in the opposition would be more than happy to quit their job, because politics has often gotten them sued and imprisoned.

There are approximately four million Malaysians who have not registered to vote, and more than two-thirds of them are below 30 years old. Nobody can tell how many of those who are registered voters will actually come out to vote. They are potentially kingmakers, and will decide what Malaysia will be after the general election.

I hereby urge all Malaysians, especially the youths to realise their importance and do their part in affecting change for the nation.