SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

CRITICAL THINKING

ASSIGNMENT 1:
MALAYSIAN ELECTION ISSUES AND ITS
SOLUTION

STUDENT’S NAME: SAHARA JUITA BINTI JAMALUDDIN

012015050339

LECTURER’S NAME: MR. IBRAHIM BIN ABDULLAH &

MISS SYAFIQAH BINTI JAAFAR

PROGRAM: BACHELOR OF PHARMACY

DATE OF SUBMISSION:

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Table of Content

Content Page

Introduction

Malaysian Election and Its Solution

Discussion and Conclusion

References

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Introduction

The Leading Party -The Barisan Nasional

The Barisan Nasional has rule Malaysia for 56 years through a system which called the General

Election. On recent election which is 13th General Election, the Malay Muslim party, United

Malays National Organization (UMNO) is headed by Prime Minister, Datuk Sri Najib Tun

Razak are dominated the election supported by smaller parties representing the other ethnic

groups which are Malaysia Chinese Association (MCA) for Chinese and Malaysia Indian

Congress (MIC). Traditionally, these parties are voted by the Malays, Chinese and Indians to

ensure that the Barisan Nasional won every election since Independence Day, 1957.

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Malaysia Election Issue

The Participation of Young Voters.

Historically, due to the 12th General Election in year 2008 it is true that many young

voters did not vote of which majority of those young voters had argued and tried to justify their

non-participation by saying that their vote would not make any different and reluctantly accepted

status quo, meaning their votes would never do any good to change the leadership and the

administration of the government. Years after years the Barisan Nasional government keeps on

telling the same issues, policies, and promises to the people, and most of the times the young

people are left behind.

However the situation had changed tremendously when the young voters chose to vote in

the election at beginning of the 13th General Election in year 2013 and some of them were

elected as the political representatives. A very classic example was a young 23 year old student

challenging Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Sri Najib Razak for the parliament seat of Pekan in

the country’s May 5 general elections. Unfortunately, the Mohammed Bukhairy Mohammed

Sofian's plan to run against the Prime Minister was dropped simply to avoid switching votes

from the main opposition candidate. In any event it was a reminder of how young voters view the

politics in the Malaysia which were never be ruled by the opposition. He is one of 2.6 million

Malaysians registered to give out their election for the first time, making up roughly a fifth of

Malaysia's 13.3 million qualified voters. That is much higher than the 638,000 new voters from

five years ago. Analysts say that there is improvement that young people showed their interests

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in politics following the opposition's best-ever election which was in 2008 that make more young

people to register.

The Young Voters Voting Opposition Party.

A survey conducted by the respected pollster Merdeka Centre which was released in

February 2013 has showed that voters aged 21-30 are the age-group most unsatisfied with the

performance of the prime minister. Their numbers make young Malaysians voters a crucial,

possibly definite, source of support in an election that promises to be the closest since

independence.

There is another survey was released in January 2013 by Universiti Malaya, showed 52

percent of new voters support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, opposition leader for prime minister,

with Datuk Sri Najib Tun Razak at 30 percent. Besides that, the head of the arts and social

sciences school at Monash University Malaysia, James Chin stated that the things like

transparency, good government and corruption issues tend to look very bad for the government.

According to the jobseekers in 2011, the total number unemployed 21-24 years old made up

about 61 percent. This number indicated that the levels of graduate unemployment are extremely

high in Malaysia

Summarily, the Merdeka Centre survey conducted in February 2013 found that the age of

21-30 year olds was the age group most anxious and troubled about their personal finances.

Hence, the growing economy which was the Datuk Sri Najib Tun Razak’s campaign message

may fall on deaf ears among many young Malaysians.

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The Amendment of University and University College Act (UUCA 2012)

At the higher education level on the other hand, the existence of University and

University College Act (UUCA 2012) too can be taken as an instrument by the government to

maintain influence and domination towards the society. Before the latest amendment of this Act,

student' political rights and freedom of education is limited and the freedom of academic is in the

discretionary of the Students’ Affair of the institution. They are claiming their rights to politic

and education in order to ensure a dynamic and progressive education system. Prior to that, the

mass demands the government to repeal the act that is seemed to be unrelated in a

democratic society.

In the year of 2010, the government in the beginning did not want to tolerate and students

is strictly bounded by the law of Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, students are

prohibited from joining any activity related to politics whether in or outside campus. The UKM4

case is the best example in showing that the government forbids any aspect that damages the

position of government’s leadership in the society. In this case, 4 students from University

Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) were expelled from the university due to reasons of joining the

opposition party and became an agent during the state election for the Ijok parliament. The issue

of freedom of politics was then featured during the trial which was like a sudden call to the

students when they realized that they should be given the freedom to be involved in politics

whether in the government’s party or the oppositions. However, 'permission ' is still failed to be

obtained in a whole and the government's hegemony in the tertiary students is fading.

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 Regardless the amendments, activities which are political, in the campus are strictly off

limits. Their reason for this is to obtain 'permission ' from the mass through 'persuasion ', which

is by 'rewarding ' their demands. This closure is continued even after the 2013 election where it

can be seen that the government’s effort to win the heart of the students. For example, in order to

give the students opportunity to communicate and express their ideas in a right medium, the

government has allowed the university to provide a slot called ‘Sudut Pidato’. However this

freedom is subjected to the discretionary of the Students' Affair where each public speaker has to

hand in their speech script to them to get approval. Pertaining to that matter, educationally, it can

be said that the government is trying their best to maintain their hegemony position by listening

to the demands made by the majority and granting it as minimal as they can to maintain

hegemony in the students ' society.

Participation by Youths in Civil Society Movements

After the 13th General Election, Malaysia’s political landscape is changed. In the coming

future as more and more, the politics that based on race soon have to be replaced. Malaysians

nowadays reject racism and racial and religious politicking. The only difficulty to the great leap

forward is Malaysia’s internal political bickering based on race and religion as more and more

countries progressing and developing ahead of Malaysia regionally and internationally. Thus, the

younger generation is the country’s only hope who will decide the fate of the country in the 14th

General Election.

During the 12th General Election in 2008, the voting patterns have changed where

Malaysians have voted across ethnic lines and supported the opposition parties, namely Pakatan

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Rakyat. The opposition parties appeared to cooperate into a more appalling alliance in the 13th

General Election thus strengthening concept of a two coalition system. Five decade rule that was

rule by Barisan Nasional was constantly ruined by perceptions of corruption, power abuses and

racial politics. Thus, Pakatan Rakyat has offered an alternative to young and old Malaysian who

has grown tired of Barisan National.

Besides that, the noticeable changes in voting trends of Malaysians have contributed to

Barisan National losing their established two-thirds majority in Parliament and the shocking loss

of 4 states and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur in the 12th General Election 2008. A

series of major rallies such as ‘Bersih’ rallies have also created political awareness among

youths. Furthermore, beginning in the year of 2007, the civil society movements have also been

seen a huge participation by youths in these rallies.

‘Bersih’ is one of the electoral reforms done by Non-governmental organization (NGO).

It is the most successful and influential civil society movement in Malaysia that has played a

major role in creating political awareness among youths of NGO participation in Malaysian

politics. It is a clear fact that in the last two general elections, the civil society movement has

indeed gives a huge effect on BN’s popularity and reputation

The Role of Digital Communication

In terms of the digital divide between the urban and the rural, younger urban voters are

skilled technologically and keep themselves t with the latest news in social networking sites but

this gap will be extended as internet connectivity widens in Malaysia. These digital

communications such as Facebook and Twitter played a significant role in the 12th and 13th

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General Elections. Besides that, there is a proof of the effectiveness of social media which is

Post-election events such as the “Suara Rakyat, Suara Keramat” rally that drew 100,000

participants to the Kelana Jaya stadium and the almost 80,000 participants at Batu Kawan

stadium, Penang.

Moreover, Pakatan Rakyat parties, especially the Democratic Action Party (DAP) have

the edge as their online campaigns are more engaging to the young generations.Contrast this to

the You Tube videos which are “Love is in the Air” and “Beribu-ribu Tahniah” that has done by

Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) members that

went viral for the wrong reasons and there is an absolute contrast in terms of quality, creativity

and appeal.

Currently, cyberspace is the most popular, influential and effective medium that can

affect the hearts and minds of young voters as compared to the mainstream media of printed

newspapers, television, and radio which might further see a decreasing in popularity in post-

elections Malaysia. Young voters are more impressed with issues of economic proficiency,

national development, quality of living, fair practice and justice at the national level rather than

the racial riot events such as May 13th and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) seems to stand for these qualities

effectively than the BN coalition.

Nowadays, younger voters is more interest in multi-racial representation and sharing

power equally and for this PR seems to be the more well-received among youths as they offer a

fresher alternative as compared to the older BN coalition.

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Young Leaders that Attract Young Voters

One of the most important factors for Pakatan Rakyat would be their youth appeal seen in

their group of young leaders. Pakatan Rakyat has always been attractive to the urban crowd with

politicians such as Nurul Izzah Anwar, Badrul Hisham Shaharin, Rafizi Ramli, Hannah Yeoh,

Tony Pua and N. Surendran. They are more in sync with the ambitiousness of the young voters

who in turn find the young and dynamic PR leaders to be more responsive and approachable.

However, this would be unprecedented nightmare to the government. As for the 14th

general election (GE14), there is a high possibility that the Barisan Nasional will fail to keep

Putrajaya if young voters remain unimpressed with the handling of issues such as transparency

and corruption. Therefore, something is needed to be done to attract the young voters or Barisan

Nasional may lose more seats in the next general election.

The Youth Vote

The expectation and hope of young voters for Malaysia are concrete despite their

knowledge regarding their representatives is unclear. They are aware that many problems such as

transport and crime are affecting them. Despite the problem, they want their representative to

solve the larger issues such as corruption and racial discrimination. However, Malaysia’s

education system has failed in providing sufficient understanding regarding the democratic

system and involve young generation has created a large gap between youth and elected

representatives. Politics is seemingly detached from education. Every political activities

especially organized by the Opposition are portrayed as having no relevance to the youths by the

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school administrator and thereby discouraged. There are only few vocal politicians who

continually receive media and some of them are remains strangers to the young generation.

Hence, young generations do not know who to turn to and where to find their elected

representatives.

Its solutions

Barisan Nasional machineries must reach the young voters

The current issues of the government such as the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (

1MDB) and the RM 2.6 billion donation controversies has failed to reach out the young voters.

The young voters would return to their countryside and influence their parents and families to

vote against government. Thus, the government must done well in giving proper explanation to

younger voters as they are now are being fed with simplistic opinion by the opposition.

Money Politics

As for people making use of money to get votes during elections can be referring as

‘money politics’. However, the aid that given by the government every year based on its policies

before or after elections did not fall under ‘money politics’. In every General Election every

candidate is allowed to use or is given RM200,000 per candidate limit for the parliament seats

and for the limit in state seats is RM100 000 per candidate . Basically the budget is used for the

election machineries during the campaigning period and on the election days such as fuel

allowance (petrol chits), food, drinks, T-shirts, cash, caps and so on to the voters. Then there is

the cost to put up the flags, posters and banners, which are paid based on per unit. Then there is

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the cost to set up the markas plus the stage for the nightly talk with PA system, rented chairs and

also tents and canvas in case it rains.

Under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, stated if

there is a person gives, agrees or offers any gratification corruptly to any person as a reward to

favor his principal affairs or business shall be imprisonment for maximum 20 years and a fine

not less than five times the sum of the gratification. Hence, the political parties had stopped

organizing big receptions before, during and after the elections except for their staff and election

workers. As a democratic country, money politics are not allowed for both government and

opposition parties.

Vote buying

After the 13th General Election, Malaysian politics are seems near failure. The

government suffered a humiliating defeat where the loss of seats is numerous which has given

rise to danger. One of the dangers is a loss of faith in the political process itself. Datuk Seri

Najib has failed to conduct over an ugly campaign by his United Malays National Organisation

(UMNO) as the main component of Barisan. UMNO is now seems as negative, racially

disruptive and pro-Malay in the urban Malay heartlands. Thus, Malaysia’s prime minister, Datuk

Seri Najib should responsible for the loss of voters who backed the opposition parties.

Despite the situation, the government must win the hearts and mind of young voters in

series of pre-election giveaway by setting a budget for young generation and book vouchers for

the students.

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Discussion and Conclusion

How to get the Young Voters to Vote for the Ruling Party

The first is to bring back the trust and faith in the government ruling and political

process. Soon after Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak took over the administration from Tun

Abdullah Badawi in year 2009, the Auditor-General’s annual has reported that there is a

government leakage. Besides that, there is also a report that exposes several ministries huge

mismanagement of funds in year 2013 which contrary to his transformation since he took over

the country. Hence, the Prime Minister must come out with proof the government had really

combating and eliminating corruption, transparency, corruption and others that considered main

factors behind the youths’ rejection of BN.

Moreover, UMNO and Barisan Nasional must also win the heart of young urban voters’

and not only focusing poor rural ones. The young and the rising urban middle class have

sickened at the unfairness, cronyism and corruption they see around them. They forcefully

pushed the demands as they get news from lively independent websites rather than government

controlled media such as TV3, Utusan Malaysia and others. Therefore, the Barisan Nasional

must quickly respond to growing demands for more liability and democratic refinement.

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References

Abd Latiff, Z., & Abdul Latiff N. F. (2014). Malaysia 13th general election: young adult’s
perceptions towards election commission (ec) on the manipulation of the issue of
indelible ink in social networking (snss), 8(24), 269-274.

Edmund, B. T. S., & Yap, J. R. (2013). Malaysia’s GE13: The Young – Going with the Flow or
Forging a New Future? Retrieved from http://www.loyarburok.com/2013/05/05/malaysia
%E2%80%99s-ge13-young-flow-forging-future

Izwan, M. (2014). GE14 lost if Barisan still fails to impress young voters, warns Sabbaruddin
Chik. Retrieved from http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ge14-lost-if-
barisan-still-fails-to-impress-young-voters-warns-sabbaruddin

Kamal, S, M. (2015). Nazri: Umno propaganda unit a failure, not reaching out to young voters.
Retrieved from http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/nazri-umno-
propaganda-unit-a-failure-not-reaching-out-to-young-voters#sthash.RccJOQBC.dpuf

Lai, S. S. (2013). Malaysia's election result exposes divided country. Retrieved from
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/malaysia-s-election-result-exposes-divided-country-
1.1344840

Lainey. (2013). GE13: Under 21 Malaysian Youths Voice Out. Retrieved from http://hype.my
/2013/13106/ge13-under-21-malaysian-youths-voice-out/

Sithraputhran, S., & Raghu, A. (2013). Rise of young voters shifts Malaysia election
balance. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/29/us-malaysia-election-
youth-idUSBRE93S0XU20130429

Yurni Ahmad, N. S. (2015). Political right: A shift or ‘detour in nationalism’ presence among
Malaysia and Japan’s youth, 08(01), 185-191.

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