THE debate about whether or not to hold GE15 during the pandemic has been going on for more than a year now, so much so that some are using the excuse of that the pandemic will not allow GE15 to be held right here, right now.

And so, I have been suffering from polemic fatigue, after reading too many debates and articles between quarters who claim that this is not the government that they have voted for. Factually correct, semi-correct, legitimate, backdoor, etc. etc, that is not the point here.

Since the coronavirus landed on our shores early last year, many activities ended up being buried six feet under, especially on the political front. Covid-19 has certainly changed the status quo since March 2020.

First, the government change, and then it was lockdown after lockdown, so that it has turned our lives topsy turvy. Work-from-home became a new norm, the wearing of masks became compulsory, social distancing marked by red lines and yellow boxes in lifts are the order of the day.

Fortunately, the sales of hand sanitisers, masks and gloves have gone through the roof, so much so that we see our top designers diversifying their businesses into these three verticals.

Schools closed and opened, only to be closed more often that it is open. Never mind the headache of parents having to juggle their work and toddlers screaming around the house.

Hundreds of thousands of Malaysians have lost their jobs, and small- and medium-sized businesses have wrapped up at every corner of the road. What a solemn situation it has been!

The good news is, only the Parliament is permanently shut down until further notice. At least, there is one certainty amidst the many other uncertainties.

Malaysians are entering Day 1 of MCO 3.0 – at least for those who reside in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, where the greatest number of cases have been recorded.

The hospital beds are full, and the front liners are breaking their backs to save as many lives as they can. May Allah grant them ease.

As I sit and ponder about our current situation in my locked home, I go through my Facebook newsfeed, whilst listening to the birds chirping happily outside.

I browse through the many happy faces of friends who went for the Astra Zeneca shot yesterday as they share their experiences. All of them were positive and satisfactory. Apparently, the entire process takes less than an hour and they looked very happy with the efficiency and experience offered.

And then, I wonder… why is it that we cannot do a virtual general election, just like how we have registered for the Vaccine on MySejahtera. The process was seamless and easy. I know, because I too jumped on the AstraZeneca bandwagon. Within the day, I received a notification on MySejahtera and was told to “click here” to confirm the appointment.

I put on my thinking cap. Since the government has all our details on MySejahtera, (as it has been compulsory to scan in at every location you enter), surely to vote using the same mechanism can be made possible.

Look at the process of signing up for the vaccination – the app is very well designed and efficient. The day the AstraZeneca vaccination was opened for registration for people in Selangor and KL, the entire dosage was taken up within three hours.

That proves that we are all digitally savvy, responsive and we own a smartphone that works with data or Wi-Fi. The announcement made by Khairy Jamaluddin was done through Twitter and shared many times over WhatsApp and Telegram. Who said we need a television anymore, or newspaper or a letter in the mailbox?

Soon cashless payment will also override hard cash as more and more outlets will demand cashless payment (just like most car parks in malls). Bank Negara has been pushing for cashless payments for more than five years now, and it seems to have been well accepted by Malaysians. That’s how Lazada, Shopee and Grab flourished!

Going back to ‘Virtual GE15’, I personally think there is no need to wait for the full term to hold the traditional general election. There is no need to wait until the coronavirus fades away because that will take too long.

There are just too many uncertainties to just keep sitting pretty. We need to march on and embrace the new norm. A virtual GE15 is lauded!

Furthermore, if everyone can sign up within three hours and physically line up for vaccines, just like they line up for elections – there is no reason the election cannot be done online. But here, we are opting for a virtual election with no queueing up.

What about campaigning?

Do it via Zoom, do it online, do it on your social media pages like how politicians hold their press conferences and announcements. Like I said, we all have smartphones with data. Everybody is just so obsessed with their smartphones that all eyes are stuck on screens!

Plus, voting online is free, nobody needs to travel, and it can be completed with just one single click. What is needed is data protection and that magic line that says “Click here to Vote”. That’s all.

If we can do this and admit that a virtual general election is feasible and it is as easy as 1,2,3, then Malaysians can stand proud and claim top spot in the Global Democracy Index.

We would look even better than our first world neighbour, Singapore – who has never held a virtual general election.

My vote is to develop a MyPilihanraya app. Wait no more and get on with the votes. What do you think, digital savvy Malaysians?

*Sairana Mohd. Saad reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.