We have elections to choose leaders whom we believe could serve us best. For that reason, in a democratic process, elections are crucial to determine who should become the people’s representatives.

The electorate or the people are, in fact, those who should determine who ought to represent them. In a chaotic situation when people are not happy that their elected representatives have party-hopped or defected, it would be in the best interest of the people that the representatives go back to the voters.

However, firstly, it is best to understand that there are many reasons why a candidate is voted in by the electorate. Voters may vote for a candidate just because of the candidate’s exceptional persona irrespective of the party the candidate belongs to.

This has happened in many constituencies in this country before. Even independent candidates have been voted in for this reason. It may not necessarily be because of the candidate per se.

But at times, it’s the political party that matters most to the electorate when voting, irrespective of who the candidate is. This has also been seen in the country where people of all races vote for candidates from different races who represent the political parties of their choice. Here, party loyalty is the electorate’s prime concern.

In some other instances, voters will vote for a candidate out of protest for the incumbent. ‘Protest votes’ could see a favourite candidate lose irrespective of his good qualities and the political party he represents.

In the Malaysian scenario, both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat have been able to get support from the various races for these many reasons.

Be that it as it may, ethically, party-hopping should not be allowed to happen at all. There is no nobility whatsoever in opting for such a discreditable act. An elected representative owes the electorate trust - always.

Party hopping is tantamount to dishonouring this trust put on the representative by the electorate. It may be politically correct, but to the electorate it is morally wrong.

Politicians may have their own perceptions when it comes to this issue. The people, however, perceive this as not morally right but a dissipated act. But unfortunately, morality of this nature does not carry much weight in politics. It’s losing or holding on to power that matters most to any political entity.

As they say, politics is the art of the possible. Political manoeuvres in most cases defy logic, fairness or justice. It is always a case of the end justifies the means, as the ultimate aim in politics is to be in power. Smart politicians should know how to play the game of politics craftily; failing which they will fall.

This art of manipulation or craftiness will go on until it reaches a breaking point and then comes some drastic changes to the system. The people are those who will eventually make the system fail.

At the end of the day, it’s the people who will decide which political entity should be at the helm. This has happened in many countries and in some situations it went too extremely far that the democratic process crumbled beyond remedy.

As fans of the democratic process, we do not want this to happen in this country. It’s always ideal to allow the people to make the choice as to who they want to represent them. The electoral process is thus still the best approach to make everyone happy.

The wakil rakyat – irrespective of which political entity they represent - are there to serve the people. If they fail, let the people again decide in a truly democratic way. Let’s then preserve our democratic way of accomplishing our political tasks so that it does not upset the people.