“…I must say that as a citizen of the country, we are only given that choice once in every 5 years to cast that 1 or 2 votes. However, the choice of candidates may it be from the ruling coalition or the opposition is not ours but that of the competing political party. For better or worse, our choice is dependent and limited to the decision of the respective political parties in choosing and fielding the candidates.
The way I see it, the onus is on the political parties to ensure that the candidates they field are credible, accountable and responsible. Of course as voters, we can also choose not to vote or spoil the votes if none of the candidates meet our expectation…”
I have reproduced above an excerpt from a comment to my ‘Understanding abuse of power and the ultimate perpetrators’ post.
The parts in red are what I would like to touch on in this post.
Are we really at the mercy of the political parties?
Are we confined in our choice of elected representatives to candidates from both sides of the present poltical divide, regardless of how incompetent they are for the task at hand?
And if, indeed, candidates offered by the political parties are an insult to both parliament and the state assemblies, are we, the ones entrusted with the responsibility of choosing our law makers, left with no choice other than to pick one of the these misfits, or spoil our votes as the only alternative?
Share your thoughts.
The People's Parliament 
ling
June 13, 2010
The political party should get feedback from the constituency concerned before selecting its candidate. I believe in the UK political parties have local constituency clubs which give feedback to their HQ on the choice of candidates.
el teh
June 13, 2010
What happened to the idea about making it into law against leap frogging after the election?
vasantha
June 13, 2010
DearHaris,
I am just as deeply concerned at the rot.What do we do?Well,I am beginning to think that we are not ready for real western style democracy. Party candidates are chosen with high hopes placed in them. There is no indication of the fact that they are potential turn-coats. Political parties are themselves at a lost as to how not to be taken for a ride.Things can only change if there is a new generation of Malaysians, passionate for a change. We must demand credibility,responsibility and accountability from our elected representatives. We must think as citizens of the world and not justify the behaviour of certain individuals based on racial grounds. Only then would we have people of substance representing us.
Peter
June 13, 2010
Independent candidates?
If both are deemed not suitable, independent candidates seemed the logical choice, but I hope people will treat this possibility with extreme care as I hope focus should be first to displace UMNO/BN (which will never willingly reform and needs a spell in the opposition) from Putrajaya to put in place check and balance and birth of a 2-party/coalition.
If kicking UMNO/BN somehow achieved, it should be made clear to them that if meaningful reforms occur, they still have a chance of getting back to power via the ballot box as they will then be the checks on PR from committing abuses.
Even if independents considered, discussions should be opened with Pakatan Rakyat to avoid 3 or more corner contests.
anna brella
June 13, 2010
The Rakyat needs an independent list of independent candidates that it can have 100% confidence and trust in.
And then if the political parties are still silly enough to select garbage candidates for your constituencies, then suggest the constituents of each constituency take a decision to field their own independent candidate from that AAA-list of suitable candidates.
Suggest you only put those on the AAA list are not really interested in holding power or dabbling in politics/politicking but are 100% interested in making sure that the constituents get a fair deal if they agree to take on the task.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
Peter
June 13, 2010
vasantha Says:”There is no indication of the fact that they are potential turn-coats. Political parties are themselves at a lost as to how not to be taken for a ride.”
To solve the problems of political frogs, I had suggested that every candidate selected must make a public declaration that if ever get elected under a particular party and if they wish to switch or become independent, they promise to resign and if possible to stand for election again. In this way, if any candidate brake that public declaration, they will also be publically shamed.
Unfortunately, I am not able to convey the request/suggestion to the decision makers so if anyone feel that suggestion has some merits to please take it further.
anna brella
June 13, 2010
My understanding of democracy is that the People are supreme and at the apex of the power pyramid.
So the binding democratic contract is in essence between the elected paliamentarian and their voter constituents, and not between the elected parliamentarian and their allied political party.
The principle is also in keeping with giving the elected MP the freedoem and right to leave the political party s/he is allied with if s/he, in all good conscience, cannot continue being a member of that political party for whatever validly acceptable reason.
So unless there is a law that is made that gives the constituents the right to kick out their incompetent/corrupt/backstabbing elected MP, then that MP will be able to hold their constituents and their allied political party to ransom, at least until the next general election, if they were to become a Yang Berkhianat after being elected as a supposedly Yang Berkhidmat.
And should there be such a law enacted, then it should be the Election Commission job to ensure that the law is administered according to its raison d’etre.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
shakuntala
June 13, 2010
Shouldn’t the system of local council elections be re-introduced in this country, which prides itself as having a democratic system of government in which local councillors if they are good would definitely be the right choice for state and federal elections. Because the experience gained at the local level would prove invaluable. This experience would enable them to functon as MPs with resonsibility and maturity.
They would all be pretty well-known to the people of their constituencies.
hurricaneMax
June 17, 2010
In my pov, this is by far the most plausible and workable idea. But it does call for the constituents to also be proactive in encouraging those who have the potentials to move up and the guts to confront the incompetent politico-wannabes i.e.the balls to call a very public idiot an idiot in his/her face.
karenleehs
June 14, 2010
Haris,
Am just a layperson who has no law background. Wonder if anyone of you have read Jeffery Archer ‘First Among Equals’. Of course, some of you might say it is fictitious, but I learnt a lot about UK’s Westminster Parliamentary System.
Candidates for MP or even the County have to be interviewed by the residents of the constituency they are planning to run for election. And the residents actually vote for or against each respective candidates. On top of that, the candidate’s wife has to be present and questions will be fielded to her as well…..
Now that is what i called a true democracy……
anna brella
June 14, 2010
Think we all know that interviews in themselves offer no real guarantee that you will find the right candidate, nor that the chosen candidate will not change their behaviour/attitude “miraculously” after they are elected for that maximum 5-year fixed term MP contract period, nor that they will not change the goalposts of the governance system itself in the interest of their and certain other self-preservation societies.
Same principle and similar but lower risk (due to HR policies) applies when hiring someone as your permanent (i.e. indefinite contractual term) employee under an employment contract of service.
So yes to initial interviews but constituency voters (and political parties) need the guarantee of a legal sanction to keep their MPs truly in check and focussed on doing what they were vooted in to do.
As to the potential added requirement for the MP candidate to have certain sorts of nice to have accoutrements (or baggage that you need to pay for?) other than their integrity and reasonable skills and experience for doing the MP task honestly and adequately, then that surplus requirement IMO, has ZERO relevance or bearing on the issue of candidate selection, unless of course voters want their MPs to waste time in conforming to such totally irrelevant to the job stuff that voters may want in order to satisfy their own social edice-complex hang-ups.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
Remie
June 14, 2010
Politics is dirty. Thus, not many decent folk would want to participate in active politics.
That leaves those with a hidden agenda to pursue candidature.
That said, we can only hope that many decent people will offer themselves/their family/their lives to the service of our country, in the next elections.
Otherwise, Malaysia is a doomed country.
hurricaneMax
June 17, 2010
politics is as not dirty. Its like saying a car is dangerous.
Its the politicians who are dirty…esp the 2-face-malaysian politicians!
Kongkor
June 15, 2010
Thanks Pak Haris for picking up on the comments I’ve made in your previous post.
Honestly, I’ve never imagine myself talking about politics, what more commenting or sharing some of my personal thoughts about it until now.
My take is that when we are left with no choice than having to see these ‘misfits’ as a law maker, then I will choose to spoil my vote to show my disgust and that the people’s vote are not to be taken for granted.
Our fundamental rights to vote for the candidate as a law maker and in return as a law maker to serve the needs of the people should not be questioned by any of the political parties. Otherwise, they shouldn’t be in politics.
Having said this, I would like to share what President Susilo of Indonesia have to say in the last presidential election that has a profound impact on me said to this effect”Saya mencalonkan diri untuk MENGABDI untuk bangsa dan negara dan bukan untuk kepentingan diri sendiri, Insyallah Tuhan sudah menberkati saya dan keluarga saya”
lizziewong
June 17, 2010
Dear Kongkor,
Much as I am frusrated about this, we have to keep our faith. We hope more virtuous and God fearing malaysians will rise up and join pakatan to stand for election at the next GE. If we fail at GE13, we will try at GE14 until change becomes a reality.
In the mean time, spoiling our votes is an act of despair. Our votes are precious, we have to treat it with sanctity. One spoilt vote is one extra point for BN.
lizziewong
June 17, 2010
I think we need to enact anti hopping laws.
The last GE was so clear that virtual unknowns carrying the pakatan torch upset BN veterans. Any idiot will tell you that the people voted for(or against) the party.
BN is not interested in anti hopping rules, becuz they think with their big cash hoards (soon to add another 500 million thanks to Ascot)they will always be able to buy frogs.
I think at the next GE, we need to ask for a referendum on the rakyat for this law to be put in place.
Mr. Tin
June 17, 2010
What about foaming Voters Association based on SPR Kawasan mengundi for DUN and Parlimen. Membership is based on SPR list. This VA will can easily elimanate pengundi hantu. The VA should remain appolitical.
Sharing
June 22, 2010
What does the Constitution say?
I can only find the Malaysia Parliament (Renumeration) Act. and seems nowhere to get the stipulation of the Obligations of a MP.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Malaysia
almost confirmed that MP were/are there as Rubber Chops.
The Constitution, after hundreds, if not thousands, of “amendments” could only be found as Act for the Powers and the Privileges and not for the People. Those who should work for the People and Justice are Privilege under the Constitution. The AG is even put to be above the Law and Court!!
MP are elected to work for the Ruling Parties or the Parties they represent.
There are no stipulations of Duty and so no stipulation of Penalty if they do not perform!
HOW CAN THEY BE PART OF A SOCIETY OR COUNTRY??
Same for Acts providing powers to those Ministries, or, PM.
LAWS ARE NOT MADE FOR the People or Malaysia as a Whole. The Basis for Justice has gone!!