WHOSE turn is next or ‘siapa berikutnya’?

We as voters for the next general election are doctors in a busy hospital. Political parties and politicians will be waiting in line and we are ready for the next patient.

We will be helping them to win against the sickness and subsequently sort of determine our future with their policies.

We will be asking: “can I help whoever is next?” and have a choice as to how to treat the patient.

How do you think arrogant people will be treated? There are many parties and many more waiting to be registered, even a judicial review against the home minister.

Remember, we are helping them. Yet how will they help us to help the country after winning the next election? Or will they just help their friends and cronies?

We have experienced a few coalitions over the past few years and we can gauge their effectiveness.

Manifesto is not a ‘promise’ but how well did they perform during their stint, however short they were.

A well-informed voter will not only hear to what is being said by his or her favourite candidate, but will also extensively read and evaluate their performances, and ask about future plans for the well-being of the constituency and the country as a whole.

Smart voters should know what they want and the needs for the future well-being of the country. Be aware of current issues such as inflation, political instability, corruption, unemployment, etc.

What we need now are solutions to the above. Do ask ourselves whether the party which is so confident of winning the next election be able to solve them.

Don’t be deceived by political statements. Look at the situation within the party or coalition itself, whether there is stability and how it treats its members who have differing opinions. Some are putting the cart before the horse.

On a scale of 1-10, how do you rate the governments that we have experienced?

Voters should be more active in this social media age. Engage the candidates through Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc to get them to commit about their plans and remind if they won or failed to fulfil their promises.

For a start, ask them why and what do they think about the need to have a general election before the end of the parliamentary term.

More often than not, politicians are experts at justifying.

Exchange notes through the social media to see whether they are pulling our collective leg and constantly remind them of their duties and promises and not to play truant from parliament sessions.

Advise them we do not need them to officiate opening ceremonies. We need them to help the ‘B60’ (formerly B40) and utilise funding and have programmes to get all the races to work together.

For their visits, we want to see commitments with deadlines and results, not a big entourage. We have seen a huge cabinet and do want to see it being practised down the line.

Where possible, during this inflationary time, try to start co-operatives, big or small, for the benefit of the constituents.

This will definitely help the B60 and mitigate inflation. Look for ways to reduce incidences of middlemen.

Request they provide quarterly or biannual reports on work carried out based on promises, including financial data.

For transparency purposes, they should report the funding they receive – including political donations credited direct to their own bank accounts – and how much spent.

This will also assist the Finance Ministry in preparing the Budget.

This reporting is more critical for ministers, as they will receive a pension when they are no longer in office.

Last, but not least, ask ourselves whether we want the same political structure where the present coalitions are voted in or we want a new mix, one cannot dictated by an individual at his or her whims and fancies.

“And O my people, give full measure and weight in justice and do not deprive the people of their due and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption” (Quran – Surah Hud, 11:85).

What say you? – October 3, 2022.

* 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.