Deny BN a 2/3rds majority in GE2008

As we go to the polls in a few weeks time, I happened to chance across this succinct and insightful letter below. I implore you to read it, and vote accordingly in the election.

Letter by SV Singam (published on The People's Parliament)

The ruling coalition has enjoyed an almost unbroken 50 years of 2/3 majority in parliament. The only time this overwhelming majority was lost was in 1969. Immediately, the race riots were triggered, parliament was suspended and the National Operations Council (with 100% control) installed. The semblance of democracy was only restored after the major opposition parties were sucked into a new and larger coalition and the 2/3 majority regained.

The ruling coalition operates on the Whip principle – component parties and representatives must toe the official line. Under no circumstances is a Wakil Rakyat allowed to vote according to his conscience or according to the mandate the rakyat he represents gave him.

So what has 50 years of 2/3 majority given us?

* The Malaysian Constitution has been amended some 690 times. The USA has been in existence for more than 200 years and their constitution was only amended 27 times.
* The Constitution is amended for matters as trivial as extending the term of office of the Elections Commission officers, simply to avoid facing rejection by the Agung.
* Because of the overwhelming power available to the Executive, the Legislature has been reduced to a rubber stamp, the Judiciary has been emasculated and corrupted and the powers of the Agung have been clipped.
* The legal system is a sad joke, serving only further the desires of the ruling clique.
* The Elections Commission serves only to ensure that the ruling clique is returned to power.

Look at the statistics…

In the last election, Barisan Nasional received only 63.8% of the popular votes but has 91% of all parliamentary seats. All due to gerrymandering, phantom votes, voter relocation, voter substitution… there are even suspicions of ballot box stuffing.

UMNO received 35.9% of the popular votes, has 50% of the parliamentary seats and holds 71% of the ministerial positions. The other members of the coalition have been reduced to running dogs, wagging their tails and begging for scraps.

Little Napoleons have been allowed to run rife and the rights of non-Malay, non-Muslim communities have been trampled upon. The Wakil Rakyat do nothing even when constitutional amendments threatening these rights are proposed. It is left to the opposition members to highlight these alarming matters and try to prevent total steamrolling.

Meanwhile, it’s not like the rights of all Malays are really being addressed. Claims of hard-core poverty among rural Malays indicate that wealth distribution is not making real headway. Under the umbrella of the NEP, wealthy UMNO leaders continue to steal the wealth of the country, feeding pittance to the rakyat. And the Malays are being deprived of the ability to compete and gain new skills.

Under the aegis of the NEP, incompetent people (skilled in politicking) are given promotions while capable people are being deprived of the opportunity to lead. Major national corporations and companies are blundering from error to error. We have lost our competitive edge in practically every field.

How much more of this can we take? How much more of this should we take?

Change may not necessarily be better.

But without change, it is not possible to become better.

If we want to become better, we must want change.

It is time the 2/3 majority in parliament is dismantled.

We hold that power.

So, vote the opposition. Any opposition. Vote anyone apart from BN (UMNO, MCA, MIC, Gerakan etc). Therefore simply vote PAS, DAP, PKR, the independents... anyone except BN.

What's the UPSIDE?

Simple. Deny BN a 2/3 majority. Without that majority, they cannot change the constitution and pervert the country more than they already have. Without that majority, parliament will be a more democratic affair. BN will not be able to steamroll their way through. Each decision will be scrutinised and debated thoroughly.

What's the DOWNSIDE?

If you ask me... honestly... there is no downside. Why... here's how I breakdown the 4 main excuses (reasons) to keep voting BN.

1. The Opposition is disorganised, untested, have conflicting objectives and will govern the country into ruin.

Well... they won't, because they can't.

The opposition will not govern the country into the doghouse. They will not govern the country... period. Given how corrupted the election system is, the opposition will NEVER win enough seats to form a govt. It's as simple as that!

Even if the election system was fair, the entire opposition in total, simply do not contest in enough seats to form a govt... and that's assuming they can agree to disagree long enough to form a viable coalition govt.

2A. I do not agree with forming an Islamic country. I cannot vote PAS.

2B. I do not agree with having my Bumi special privileges and position of Islam taken away. I cannot vote DAP.

2C. I do not agree with having an ass pirate becoming PM. I cannot vote PKR.

Again, these are a moot excuses. It simply won't happen. As mentioned above, the opposition will not be able to form the govt, and much less capture 2/3 of the parliamentary seats required to change the constitution to effect 2A and 2B.

So, the objective of all right-thinking Malaysians here, is not to install the Opposition into govt - since it won't happen. BN is going to form the next govt no matter what we do. The objective is therefore, to tie BN's hands by denying them the 2/3 majority.

3. The opposition will not be able to unclog the drains and cut the grass verge in front of my house.

Neither will BN, my friend. BN currently has 90% of the parliamentary seats... so, do you mean to tell me that only 10% of the places in Malaysia have clogged drains and unkempt grass? I mean, WTF are you talking about?

Drains, grass and potholes are local council responsibilities. Not parliamentary. The only way to improve local services is to have local council elections. Electing local councillors means that they immediately become accountable to their electorates. Taking away BN's 2/3 majority is the logical first step to forcing the govt to eventually listen to the citizenry and reinstitute local council elections.

4. I'm voting for stability. If BN loses it's 2/3 majority, economic and social chaos will ensue at best. At worst, we will have a repeat of May 13, 1969.

I reckon May 13 was UMNO's doing. And if it repeats itself, rest assured that it will again be UMNO's doing.

To me, this willingness of BN's largest party to resort to violence in order to keep itself in power is more than REASON ENOUGH to vote the Opposition. I don't know about you, but I rather not be held hostage in my own country!

So, as DAP says...