GEORGE TOWN – The country’s current political uncertainty will not be resolved by hastening the 15th general election (GE15) before it is due next year, as no coalition appears to be strong enough to secure victory with a convincing margin, cautioned an academician.
In making this assessment, Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) Assoc Prof Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk said one should not be misled by the victories experienced by Barisan Nasional (BN) and its allies at the recent state elections in Melaka, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.
Despite the impressive strides they made, the crux of the matter is that these happened during the pandemic when voter turnout was historically low.
Azeem, who is director of USM’s Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, said voters had become turned off from going out to vote due to issues affecting the country, while also being dissuaded by the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the stakes are different in a national election, and they may be more motivated to cast their ballots now, he said.
With the passing of legislation to ban party-hopping and the pandemic digressing into an endemic, more voters may be inclined to participate in polling.
The implementation of the Undi18 policy, which has lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18, is also a new factor for parties to reckon with, he added.
Azeem stressed that there has been a trust deficit among the public due to abuse of social media by parties more interested in championing their political survival rather than the nation’s well-being.
A large segment of Malaysians has lost trust in elected leaders, as politicians who run for seats are seen to be tainted in one way or another.
“In a bid to win votes, politicians have berated their competitors to a point where trust is lost,” said Azeem in an interview.
Economic impact of global incidents
Azeem also warned that in the coming months, the economy will be severely tested despite reports of continued growth.
“The global economy may impact us. The disruption to the supply chain continues unabated and our ringgit’s decline makes imports pricier,” he stressed.
While tourism has witnessed a rebound, Azeem said that this is due to people yearning to travel after the pent-up frustration of facing lockdowns for some two years.
Revenge tourism will compel people to spend, but the money will run out,” he said.
Stressing that Malaysia does not have time to change its situation, he said decisive actions are needed to counter the global impact of disruptions to the supply chain, inflation and overall rising living costs.
Conflicts such as in the Middle East and Ukraine also bring about difficulties that impact us.
Then, there are the “unknowns” brought about by climate change, he said.
“The rate of natural disasters is high. We used to be spared from major disasters, but not anymore.
“Look at the floods in Selangor and now the mudflows in Baling. These have caused the government to lose up to RM80 million in mitigating the crises of weather.”
Since 2018, the government’s fiscal budget is 80% focused on operational expenditure, while only 20% is devoted to development, he said.
“Time is no longer on our side. So, the next government will need support and sacrifices to ensure the country is geared up for the future challenges,” he said. – The Vibes, September 16, 2022
