What do we want for GE15?


THE 15th general election is around the corner. Political parties and coalitions are busy racing against each other for early preparations. The drumbeat is getting louder.

What are your expectations and how do you want it to turn out?

We have the benefit of experiencing changes of governments both after a long stretch and with quick successions. There must be things that we have picked up.

They have justified their respective losses but not admitted their own shortcomings. 

We want to be a developed/high-income nation but our thinking and actions are stuck with old issues and not forward-looking.

A couple weeks ago, five political meetings involving parties and coalitions were held to discuss, among others, a Federal Court decision, to renew a coalition’s determination in its struggle and strengthen cooperation and current issues. If GE15 is around the corner, they should start talking about a manifesto.

A much-used justification is “the voices of the grassroots”. But we have to assess the level of intelligence of the grassroots and how much they understand the issues at hand. More often than not, it is from the words of their leaders and not through direct reading and intellectual discourses.

Corruption was a crowd-pleaser and battle cry in GE14 but will it still be used? It is prevalent from the bottom up to the highest level. The excuse is political funding is not a crime. 

To show sincerity, will all parties and coalitions practice what is drafted in the Political Funding Act although not enacted yet? Will they be more transparent and divulge their funding? Then we will know who is the giver, the middle-person and the receiver.

Will the race and religion mantra be stretched to its furthest extent again? Many a politician’s imagination is feverish from a staple diet of racial issues.

Others in social media have this fever too. Worst, they will add on to what the politicians been said and done.

By the way, there exists intra-party disunity.

Whether it is unity, 1Malaysia or Keluarga Malaysia, it is meaningless to us if we are divided.

The issue of which “pendatang” is straight forward.

The oldest child often is expected to take on the most responsibility and there are more opportunities for older siblings and they may have their own preferences and may not want to share with their younger siblings.

Political leaders should lead by example and advise followers not to overreact but instead create platforms to resolve or work out solutions amicably. For too long, both sides have been screaming from opposite ends trying to be the hero and to gain political support.

If an MOU was achievable, why not this?

Both sides of the political divide should show maturity if they are really serious about wanting to give us a better future.

Instead of equality, we should be aiming for equitability that leads to a harmonious and fair society.

These are some of the issues hindering us to evolve and advance.

What we need is a new government that will make a promise for a better future and use its best efforts to fulfil it while empowering the people to have a share in the decision-making, where possible.

Are the present leaders sincere in giving us a better future or do we need more
fresh faces and ideas?

What say you?

Saleh Mohammed 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.


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