Tales of Two Bukits + One River

PETALING JAYA: It is status quo for Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat after the keenly contested tri-elections. Barisan retained the Batang Ai state seat, which it won in the 2006 state elections, while Pakatan coalition members PAS and PKR regained the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat and Bukit Selambau state seat respectively, which they won in the 2008 general election. watch video...

The most interesting show in the history of Malaysia election was in Sungai Petani, where 13 independent candidates racing along side with 1 PKR and 1 BN candidate. One may say that we're truely democratic by allowing our "eligible" citizen to participate in the election but something must be done to stop/minimize any "Tom, Dick and Harry" to participate in future election as independents candidate. Charisma, affordability and sufficient supporters aside; an independent candidates should also be someone with basic qualification or knowledge...say about Malaysia and State Constitutions, Rukun Negara, basic ideology; and the main functions of Executive, Legislative and Judiciary...etc. Some political parties which I've came across did send their future leaders or potential candidates to such courses to understand politics better. They even teach their party constitution too to ensure party members understand the party struggle, philosophy and objectives. Probably the respected party/ies like Election Commission should look into providing basic courses to all future election candidates (especially the Indenpendent). What we've seen at Bukit Selambau may cause some "laughing-stock" from other countries. Candidate aside, the logo's that they use (ranging from an umbrella, bus, bicycle, keys, aeroplane...) already tells us something wasn't that right. EC should also consider limiting the Independent candidate to only 1 (like other political parties did). By doing this we can also avoid "unscrupulous" political parties of using such individual/s as independent to split vote/s.

The Outcome/Consequences:

1. All the 13 independent candidates in Bukit Selambau lost their deposits amounting to RM65,000. Each candidate had been required to garner at least 3,075 votes to have their RM5,000 deposit reimbursed. The total number of votes – 1,326 – polled by all 13 independent candidates did not even amount to half the minimum number needed by any one candidate to redeem his deposit.

2. Due to too many names, even EC got it wrong too. (The Star Online: 8th Apr'09 - Election Commission sets right logos, names mix-up). The Election Commission (EC) reverted to putting only logos on ballot trays following a complaint lodged by independent candidate Venason Michael.

I'm all the way to support "Democracy...The Eastern Style".
Note: Pictures and some content of this posting was extracted from The Star Online, 8th Apr'09).