The absence of a mechanism to “control” the actions of Members of Parliament (MPs) makes it difficult for voters to gauge the effectiveness of their elected representatives.
The Centre for Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, said this is why votes “do not mean much” after it is cast.
Its director, Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk, said that while the new anti-hopping law was aimed at ensuring the people’s mandate was not violated, other aspects of accountability and functionality of MPs are often forgotten once election fever is over.
He added that manifestos, promises and goodies are offered before elections, but no one keeps tabs if they are fulfilled.
“Generally, in Malaysia, voters do not care what happens after the general election. No one monitors if the agenda set by the new government is followed through,” said Azeem.
“MPs who are supposed to turn up for Parliament sittings are often absent, while those who turn up in the Dewan Rakyat do not speak up.”
Azeem said many elected representatives produce unimpressive report cards at the end of their term.
But a shift in the trend, especially in urban areas, shows voters now look at candidates’ capabilities.
Azeem said this could be an indicator that voters would demand accountability after casting their votes.
“Urban voters are mature. Political parties must realise those in these areas are not looking at the party but the capability of candidates,” said Azeem.
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged today that voters were no longer looking at the “party” but the expertise and backgrounds of candidates before casting their votes.
Anwar said his party recognised that the challenges faced by the country, including problems inherited during Barisan Nasional’s rule, require the expertise of those from various backgrounds and fields.
This afternoon, Anwar announced the names of seven PKR candidates who will contest in the general election. They include Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz and Saipolyazan Mat Yusop.
Nik Omar, son of former Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and former head of Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia, is set to contest in Perak.
Saipolyyazan, a former Selangor Zakat Board chief executive officer and currently UEM Edgenta Bhd country head (Saudi), is also set to feature in the Silver State.
The other PKR candidate to contest in Perak is former deputy director-general of the Public Service Department and former Perak state secretary Datuk Zainal Azman Abu Seman.
Meanwhile, Dr Noraishah Mydin Abdul Aziz, a senior lecturer at University Malaysia’s Faculty of Medicine, will run in the Federal Territories, and Datuk Dr Hassan Basri Awang Mat Dahan, the former vice-chancellor of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, is set to contest in Pahang.
Main image: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (centre) announced the names of seven high-profile PKR candidates contesting in GE15 at its party headquarters in Petaling Jaya, today.