Tanjung Piai - a slippery slope for Harapan

It is not easy to forget how the last BN administration set the GE14 voting day on a Wednesday. The outburst of condemnation and the sheer silence by certain BN components on this clear obstruction to practising democracy should not be forgiven.

Logically, the move would have hindered many Klang Valley residents from going back home to vote. It would have benefitted the incumbent BN government as they had better election machinery to ferry their voters to the voting stations. Efforts to facilitate overseas voters (seen as anti-BN) were also non-existent.

So BN components really have little to complain about when the Tanjung Piai by-election is set to take place during the Umno and MCA general assembly (which has been postponed). 

It’s a case of karma. What goes around comes around.

But whilst it’s easy to sit back and laugh at BN for getting a taste of their own medicine, this strategic move is a warning sign for all those who truly believe in Pakatan Harapan’s commitment to reform. 

Yes, BN did the same when they were in power. But if Harapan is doing exactly what BN was doing after only a year in power, is this a good sign? This may be a slippery slope towards more obstructions of democracy. 

If we do not criticise this now, then we might soon face a Putrajaya that is more at ease to tip the democratic scales in their favor.

As a bi-partisan think tank, our hopes are that other NGO’s such as Bersih can stand up and be fair in this situation. 

A better Malaysia starts with the current leaders choosing to be better rather than constantly comparing themselves with the lower standards of the previous administration.

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The writer, Shamil Norshidi is attached to the Centre For Governance And Political Studies. -Mkini