New Malacca govt won't be short-lived, voting still matters - Chin Tong

 

DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong said there are suggestions that Malaccans should not go out to vote in the forthcoming state election as the new Malaccan government would be short-lived. This, he said, is incorrect.

Liew noted the argument was based on the premise that the Malacca state assembly may be dissolved again when the general election is called, due in 2023.

However, Liew said the Malacca polls on Nov 20 is to elect a state government for five years and there was no reason why the state assembly should also be dissolved when the federal election is called.

“It is wrong to say Malacca people will have to vote for their state representatives again if the general election comes.

“Even if Parliament dissolves next year, why should the newly formed Malacca state government need to dissolve the state legislature?

“We have to tell the people that they are going to vote for the state leaders for the next term, which means the representatives who win the election are going to do their jobs for the next five years,” Liew told journalists after attending a book launch in Kuala Lumpur yesterday evening.

The book launch featured Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh’s autobiography, titled ‘Becoming Hannah: A Personal Journey’.

The book was first published in 2014 and the Chinese version was launched yesterday.

Also present at the event were Warisan president Shafie Apdal, Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking, Warisan Youth chief Azis Jamman, Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, DAP’s Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, Sandakan MP Vivian Wong and Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi and PKR’s Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin.

Liew Chin Tong

Reduced turnout

Liew said suggestions that the new Malaccan government will be short-lived are to reduce the election turnout rate.

The DAP man stressed that it was still very important for people to cast their votes.

Liew added that although this is the first time in history that Malacca has its state election separately from the federal election, this may happen in other states in the future and become a new trend.

In recent decades, only Sarawak has consistently held its state election at periods different from the federal polls.

However, Sabah last year also held its polls separately after the state government lost its majority. Malacca is seeing a similar situation.

Meanwhile, Liew also urged the federal government to work with the opposition bloc to come out with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for elections during the Covid-19 pandemic instead of an outright ban on campaign events.

He said this is to ensure that the people can get the information they need about the election candidates.

“The Election Commission has the responsibility to give voters fair access to all information. It can be done virtually, but it has to be fair. I hope the authorities can figure this out in the next few days.

“For example, if all the parties decide to do the campaign through televisions or radio, the government should open up all these media channels for all the political parties,” said Liew.

The Malacca state election was triggered after four state representatives withdrew their support for the Umno-Bersatu state government under Sulaiman Md Ali.

The Election Commission has set Nov 8 for nomination and polling will be on Nov 20. - Mkini