KUALA LUMPUR – Observers appear to be divided on the prospective turnout trends for the upcoming elections, with the emergence of new scandals, the imprisonment of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and the influx of youth voters.
This comes in the wake of the controversy surrounding the multibillion-ringgit littoral combat ship (LCS) project, and the former prime minister’s failure to overturn his conviction in the SRC International graft case, which sent him to serve his 12-year prison sentence recently.
However, the experts have offered different views on how these issues will impact the voters and their sentiments.
Speaking to Getaran, The Vibes’ Malay-language sister portal, Research for Social Advancement research coordinator, Fakhrurrazi Rashid said that voters have become increasingly confident in the election process.
Fakhrurrazi said the SRC International case and the expose on the LCS project have provided a chance for voters to carry out their responsibilities as citizens at the ballot box accordingly.
Race and religion-based political parties remain favoured among the public. However, people today have become increasingly aware of the importance of having a good government,” he said.
“This is essential in solving economic issues and the people’s problems, rather than just solely depending on racial sentiments. This will turn the competition of ideas into the main agenda in GE15.”
He added that youth and fence-sitting voters will add challenges faced by political parties, which will need to find new formulas to woo them.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia geostrategist, Prof Azmi Hassan dismissed the claim that corruption cases affecting politicians will inspire the voters to cast their ballots, saying it depends on the party’s strength.
“For example, during the Melaka and Johor (state elections), BN was expected to emerge victorious. That is why we saw a high voter turnout among BN supporters,” Azmi said.
“Unlike Pakatan Harapan, the voters did not even cast their votes, as they had already expected (the coalition) to lose in the (state) elections.
So, the major attraction (for voters) is which party (or coalition) will form either the state government or the federal government,” he said.
Azmi also highlighted the spirit of BN voters who are likely to vote in the upcoming election due to their belief in the coalition’s strength, which could help it win the polls.
He said the scenario is different with PH supporters, who appear to believe that the coalition is unable to form the federal government, and who are less inclined to hit the polling stations.
“However, the political atmosphere in the future is difficult to predict and can be full of surprises.
“So for me, the biggest attraction is the strength of the political party. The stronger the party, the more likely their supporters will vote, or vice versa,” he said.
In the meantime, University of Malaya Centre for Democracy and Elections socio-political analyst, Awang Azman Awang Pawi believed the national ideology of Rukun Negara should serve as a guide for voters.
He said, by upholding the Rukun Negara, voters will associate any national issues with the country’s guiding principles.
“The (pillar about the) supremacy of the constitution in Rukun Negara can generally be viewed as a principled philosophy that urges them to vote with comprehensive awareness, and not merely on issues played up by the opposition.”
“If we look at how Indonesians vote, their voting trends are linked with the spirit of the Pancasila,” he said, referring to the republic’s national ideology.
Awang Azman also said it was high time for politicians to spread awareness on voting as a means of upholding the Rukun Negara as the national ideology. – The Vibes, September 7, 2022
