IN recent years, Malaysians have witnessed and experienced the depth of corruption in our country. Words like Birkin, pink diamond, Scorpene and 1MDB have all become keywords that symbolise just how far our country has declined.

Not only do these scandals prove that there is a serious need to reform our system but there is a dire need to bring back a sense of integrity that has seemingly vanished over time.

Last week, I had a chance to talk to several young Malaysias in our nation’s capital – topics ranged from art, music, Penang and of course, politics. Some voiced out their disillusionment and expressed why they would rather abstain from voting.

Mind you, these Malaysians were politically savvy and aware, in other words, the antithesis to the Kardashian/Bieber/Swift obsessed youth stereotype. There was a sense of emotional burden and mental exasperation to how they responded. They just did not feel inspired, motivated or even the slightest bit optimistic that their ballot could make a difference.

Those present kept raising the same questions – “How is the opposition different than the ruling coalition?” and “How can there even be a change of government, given just how badly rigged the entire system is?” Needless to say, the night left me wondering how can we – as concerned citizens, reach out to an increasingly apathetic group? 

Are we doing enough or anything at all, to inspire change?

Voter fatigue is a real concern for Malaysians who seek reforms this coming election. The apathy that the electorate has experienced these past two terms has left Malaysians feeling a little bit too disengaged and constantly ignored.

Given the amount of scandals and immorality that has become a permanant fixture to Malaysian politics, Malaysians are getting annoyed and losing interest. According to some Malaysians, there are those who felt that there was absolutely no point in voting because there were not any suitable candidates and they simply could not see the country recovering at all.

The inability to uphold social justice, the rule of law and the rise of fake news have also contributed to this. 

Waving off the importance of casting one’s vote and shrugging off every effort undertaken by the political opposition has now become the new “in” thing. Although, some might say (sometimes more convincing than others) that not voting can be the ultimate protest against the atrocities committed against democratic freedom, not voting is in fact, the greatest act of treason a citizen can commit against their nation.

One must never forget that in a democracy, voting is communal and not an individual act. Sovereign power is in the citizens as a whole, and my vote has weight as part of this political community. Even if an individual vote might not make a major difference in a large-scale election, the group of voters does.

Voting is not only about casting ballot papers but it is also about showing solidarity for citizens, in this case, Malaysians, who support this democratic process enshrined in our federal constitution. Voting is also about encouraging others to support calls of reform and reintroducing social justice into our system.

To remain inspired, we must be made to understand that the system is not entirely rigged as what is commonly accepted. As long as we have elections, challenges to the status quo can be made, granted voter turnout remains high.

The 13th general elections saw our nation achieve the highest voter turn-out in history – 84.8% Malaysians casted their votes which saw the opposition coalition win the popular vote. As long as we have leaders who continue their struggle for change and can show a growing disenchanted group of Malaysians the light at the end of the tunnel, there is still hope in this country.

As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said,”Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are the voters of this country”.

We must remember that democracy is only as good as participation of its individuals and not forgetting, civil society as a whole. Of course, this change will not happen overnight, hence, we must remain level headed and reasonable when deciding on important matters. But most importantly, we must fully grasp the idea that greater participation at the ballot box can eventually lead to the changes we desire and envision for our nation. – August 13, 2017.

* Syerleena is a councillor at the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). She is a Malaysian who believes that our life experiences shape us into fascinating beings.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.