You guys are a good sample of young citizens in Malaysia, I just want to know what do you think of this:
Our parliament system is adapted from the British government. It is the place where members of the floor discuss policies, current issues and criticize whatever plan or action others have for the country. This is where members supposedly improve the policies or plans, or whatever deemed necessary for the country. We have the ruling party and we have the oppositions; both of which are supposed to work in a way that they need not necessarily share the same views, but always result in a better, more scrutinized, open, democratic government. That is the basis of the parliamentary system. DEMOCRACY. The representatives should, as their name suggests, represent people of their designated region and these people, are ELECTED, for most of the cases. However we in Malaysia are facing an epidemic of dictatorship in the face of democracy. The very system that was established to elevate democracy has somehow exploited and its not working well anymore. This is not to say that the system has failed us completely and we all should just use another or totally abolish it. It is just a suggestion, to imply, that maybe we need a major restructuring, or maybe, some different ways to approach things.
In USA, they have the presidential system, which is very much different from our parliamentary system. No, this is again, not to suggest that we need to shift to presidential system. But Presidential Debate on the other hand, is very tempting to be implemented as one of the new approaches don’t you think?
“Debate is not our culture”
“we do it constantly in the parliament, what good it does if we do it publicly?”
“Hey, the parliament sittings have recordings, you can just, you know, watch it afterwards.”
And then what? time to suit up in your keyboard warrior outfit? (ok this is hitting my own nose). Well when one part of the system no longer works, we have to find a better way to do it. You can easily skip a sitting with a reason of “well I have to open..you know, a bank account”. But in the Presidential Debate, you cannot just bail your way out. you cannot run, you have to be there, live, in front of your colleagues, oppositions, and most importantly the nation. Put up a live feed of the parties’ poll, let’s see how people respond to your answers, because that is how they truly feel. Elections have been rigged so much, even if you don’t have any concrete proof, you know that it is so messed up, you laugh when they say,
“well we had a blackout and uh…guess what, we won” or “the boat just capsized..we won, its final”.
Ok, maybe not exactly those words but you get me. Its a debate, you get the time to prepare. And if you are clean, then it is a bloody good platform to shove that onto your opponent’s face and smile whilst looking at your poll rising. And it is a public debate, you will be more engaged with the public, the very people that live in the country, the very people that feel the downs and all the setbacks when our country’s economic situation is pressing them down and hard, albeit claiming we are A- in that sense. Well do you earn like they do? heck, your increase alone is higher than most of their monthly salary. (just the increase, not the total amount). And there is a plenty of time to get things straight. You get uninterrupted time to explain yourself, you get the opportunity to strengthen the people’s trust on you and so many things.
But the thing about having one is the ruling party knows that they will do horrendously.
With that mindset, winning the next election is no longer for the best interests of the country, but for the party. Mind you, presidential debate can be within your own party. If you still believe in the party but not in the person at the top, you can debate it out, find a better one before you get to the election. Yes, we can do it, we are a parliament, we can vote for no confidence whenever we find someone no longer suitable for the post. because again, THIS IS (not Sparta) FOR OUR COUNTRY.
This writings may be a little bit immature for all the mature writers out there, for all the seasoned analyzers, for all the politics expert. Regardless of what my achievements, age, race, religion and who I am today, I am still a citizen of this country and my view is the view of a citizen. a concerned one.
– Concerned Citizen
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