Bursa Malaysia lost RM35 billion market capitalisation last Monday as the FBM KLCI pluged 40.81 points, as investor took profit following renewed election jitters.
The 2.4 % one-day plunge, its worst in eight months, followed heightened speculation about Parliament being dissolved on Feb 22 to pave the way for the long-awaited general election by end-March.
The bone of contention is why must the entire nation; yes all of us..from corporate making an investment decision, to lay citizens about to plan anything serious like getting their child married or planning for a hajj trip, be subjected to this ‘vagaries of an election date’. Providing a certain degree of ‘fixedness’ does help.
Perhaps it is high time that law-makers debate a bill to legislate on ‘fixed election date’. Surely experience abound globally and doubtless, there are pros and cons to this issue. This writer is amply aware.
‘Fixing’ it to a full-term of 5 years for a serving government, barring any unforseen circumstances provided for by the Federal Constitution, will undoubtledly help remove the agony of being especially subjected to a Prime Minister, who has never known to put his weight on anything and ostensibly clueless and often times spineless, on many an important policy for the nation.
In the final analysis, one is painfully reminded that the unscrupulous political leaders will always find ways to hoodwink and cheat the electorates (rakyat) through any systems however brilliantly crafted and legislated, nay even ‘God-sent’…sigh.
Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Executive Director, PAS Research Centre.
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