XRoads

8 March 2008 was a historical day for Malaysia. It marked the first time since 1969 that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition failed to win a 2/3 majority in the Malaysian Parliament. In addition, 5/13 state legislatures (Selangor, Penang, Perak, Kedah and Kelantan) were won by the opposition, compared with only 1 in the previous election.

What's the significance of this?

Denying BN 2/3 majority
A 2/3 majority in parliament is required to pass amendments to the Malaysian Constitution. As of 2005, the Constitution has been amended 650 times over 48 years of independence, a clear indication of how such power can be easily abused. To put this into perspective, the American Constitution has only been amended 27 times in more than 200 years.

As constitutional scholar Prof. Shad Saleem Faruqi summarises, It is quite clear fundamental rights (speech, expression and assembly) have been subjected to more and more restraints over the years, while executive power has been enhanced more and more.

Denying BN a 2/3 majority in parliament is thus a crucial victory in this election.

Makkal Sakti!
Before the elections, I think many people (myself included) would've felt that the situation back home - corruption, cronyism, nepotism, racial politics, systematic inefficiency - is so hopeless that we'd never be able to make a difference to the country, even by voting, or to see widespread changes in our lifetime.

However, this election has certainly breathed new hope, new life into the people. It's certainly shown that the people do indeed have the power to make a difference if they are actually bothered to get out there and vote. After all, Makkal Sakti (People's Power)! was one of the opposition's campaign slogan.

Interestingly, more than half (52%) of the Malaysian population live in areas where the opposition triumphed - the 5 states plus the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. In terms of economic wealth, these states account for 56% of the country's GDP.

Credit must be given to the opposition's campaigning via cyberspace - blogs (Jeff Ooi, Lim Kit Siang, Anwar Ibrahim, Tony Pua), alternative media (Malaysiakini, Malaysia Today) and YouTube (Malaysiakini) - which has given them a platform to highlight views and issues that (a) wouldn't normally be reported in mainstream media (b) are crucial in enabling the people to make a fair and informed choice (c) include:

1. Inflation, rising crime
   
2. Port Klang Free Zone scandal (largest bailout in Malaysian history) [+]
   
3. Condemnation over police's handling of BERSIH rally [+]
4. Dubious constitutional amendment to extend EC chief's tenure [+]
5. Suspicions that electoral roll is contaminated with nearly 9,000 dead voters [+]
   
6. Dubious last-minute cancellation of the use of indelible ink [+]
7. The Motorola exposé [+] (just to name a few)
   

Shift from race-based politics
As a Malaysian, regardless of race, it is particularly disheartening to hear the various race-based component parties of BN (UMNO, MCA and MIC) constantly speaking of what they are doing for the benefit of their own race.

As Datuk M. Kayveas (leader of one multiracial component party of BN) observed, Every 12 months, the parties go back to one race championing their own causes and, at the end of the day, when the general election comes, we talk about 'Bangsa Malaysia'.

Even after their humiliating defeat at the hands of the opposition in this year's election, MCA leader Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting still insists, We'll continue to work for Chinese. It's obvious he just doesn't get the fact that when politicians are elected by the people, they serve all Malaysians, not just one race.

It is therefore hardly surprising that the swing in votes in this year's election was not only attributed to the Chinese and Indian communities (as was widely expected), but also to the Malay community, where there is a growing realisation that a Bangsa Malaysia approach to addressing the people's needs (as advocated by the opposition) is indeed the way to go.

Well done Malaysia in taking this step forward towards a better governance!