The Malaysian general election is around the corner. It will be the first election where I could practice my right to vote. However, being what I call a professional procrastinator and having my mind focus on others things, I didn’t register with the Election Commission and therefore, I will miss my first chance to practice my right.
But if I did register, I would vote for, sadly, BN out of no choice.
Nevertheless, whether I did register or not, I don’t really think it matters though. Frankly, the incumbent party has every chance to stay in power.
But if I had the chance, I would love go against the incumbent party which is the Barisan Nasional because:
I don’t like how they are handling local politics.
I don’t like how Malaysia continues to be racially divided.
I don’t like how the education system in Malaysia is separated just to satisfy the Chinese and the Indian. Can you name any other country where each major ethnic group have their own university? I can’t. Google probably couldn’t too.
I don’t like the Bumiputra rights. Affirmative action should be based socioeconomically, not racially.
I don’t like how racial harmony depends on the education system and the Bumiputra rights. The current system in Malaysia encourages racism.
I don’t like the current government failure to separate the party from the state. If a civil servant openly supports the opposition party, the government has no right to punish the civil servant. The civil servant serves the country, not the party.
I don’t like the current government double standard in enforcing human rights. Everybody has the right to freedom of expression, not just the supporters of Barisan Nasional.
I don’t like how the government controls the media. I have no problem if the media is biased because being biased itself is a right.
I don’t like how the state is having too much power. Go libertarian!
I don’t like how the government handles environmental issues, especially about the Broga incinerator in Selangor.
But then, if I had registered with the Election Commission, I would still vote for Barisan Nasional because:
Of PAS vision of an Islamic Malaysia. I do believe God’s words are holy but I also believe that humans are too corrupted to enforce God’s words. Sooner or later, if PAS vision comes true, Malaysia will be another Iran. Freedom will be limited in the name of Islam and also in the name of PAS. In the end, there will be a despot holding the executive power. Freedom is somewhat limited in Malaysia right now. Voting for PAS would only make things worse.
Of Keadilan and DAP association with PAS. If, Keadilan in particular disassociate themselves from PAS, I would vote for them.
I have ten points my “why I would vote for the opposition” list but I have merely two in my “why I would vote for the incumbent” list. Yet, that two reasons far outweigh the ten.
It is a sad situation. I could exercise my right to vote but choosing between the lesser of the two evils is no choice at all. So much for Malaysian democracy.
