This
was the picture of the nomination day for the Malaysia’s 13th General Election
on 20 April 2013. Except walk-over,
Singapore’s GE in 2016 is unlikely to see many independents and the 5-million
question.
In
Singapore, more political parties, big and small, will send their members to
contest in GE2016. So, walk-over will also be a history in Singapore too.
The
Malaysian general elections only manage to have no walk-over for the first time
this year, a history since 1950s. Again, Malaysian oppositions are ahead of us in
first denying the ruling party two-thirds majority in 2008 and now walk-over. However, there
are many independents, many small parties and many multi-corner contests, one
as many as 7-concerned fight. Why? Has this got to do with the 5-million question?
So,
what is the 5-million question?
[To curb defections that have been haunting the party post the 2008 general election, PKR has made it compulsory for all its candidates, at both parliamentary and state levels, to compensate the party with RM5 million should they jump to another once elected.
"After receiving the appointment letter, if any candidate withdraws before nomination (day) or jumps ship (after they have been elected), they have to compensate RM5 million to the party. (Therefore,) they have to sign an Akujanji letter," said PKR deputy secretary-general Steven Choong.]http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/227339
Oh!
there are political frogs that see the opportunity and financial gain of
jumping ship. And the price to pay is 5
million ringgits. Is this the indicative price for buying over a Member of
Parliament or state assembly representative? It is not bad for an investment of
an election deposit of RM10000 (federal) or RM 5000 (state). If you play the cards well and the luck is
with you, you may strike a big sweep.
Who
know even the deposit you may be able to find a sponsor as investor? The investment return is huge if the
indicative price of RM 5 million is correct.
Alternatively, the investment of RM 10000 or 5000 is small if you can
deny the main opponents getting more votes.
Is
RM 5 million a big sum of money in Malaysia?
Yes and no, depending on your background. For the award of running the country again,
what is the problem of investing RM 50 or even 100 million to buy over 10 or 20
MPs if they are for sell?
So,
this 5-million question from PKR as deterrence may not look as effective as it
is. When money can be used to make political gains, the situation becomes very
complicated.
It
is better we come back to the fundamental: political commitment and conviction.
Believe in what you are fighting for not because of the money.
Singapore way
Otherwise,
you have to do it the Singapore way: No more a party member, no more a MP. You
participate in the election in the name of your political party. If you are no
more a party member either sacked by the party or resigned from the party, you
will lose your MP status. It is because you win the MP seat wearing your party
colour. If you change your colour, you lose your seat. This is the basic reason for the 2
by-elections after GE2011.
Should
we thank the PAP for amending the rules and regulations to have such a
wonderful effect and killing the 5-million question? It is not sure why the PAP wanted to do that
when they were the monopoly in parliament.
Is this to make the party’s secretary-general or CEC more powerful?
In
what way, can this ‘no jump ship’ law help the PAP continuing to be a dominant
party? Perhaps, in the past it did help and prevent others for joining the
oppositions or even (potentially) bankrupting a political party. Just imagine if there is a political party
having troubles with the Registry of Societies like the case of Democratic
Action Party in Malaysia, all their elected members will lose their MP seats if
the party is forced to dissolve (if this happen in Singapore).
If
assuming the oppositions win the election in Malaysia by a small margin, a
dissolved DAP will immediately make the BN come back to power again if they
have the Singapore way.
So,
which is a better model? Singapore or Malaysia?
It has to come back the fundamental of political commitment again.
People
who stand for election must know what they are doing and what they are fighting
for. They must know the political beliefs and ideology that they are campaigning
and championing. No matter big parties, small parties or even independents, ask
yourself why you want to stand for election and for what purpose?
The
PAP wants to be a dominant party, having majority in the parliament. However, can they find enough committed individuals
to carry out the political duties?
Comments
Post a Comment