4 not-so-easy steps for voters to navigate state polls

 

From Prof Dr Zalina Ismail

My grandson is now eligible to vote in the Kelantan state elections. He wants to know if it’s worth the time and energy to come back and vote. “Grandma, why do we vote? Is it because we want a better quality of life? Has anything really changed?”

I have lived in Kelantan for more than 33 years. My grandson is right. Nothing has changed much. The air remains clear and fresh, there are no skyscrapers, the people are friendly. There is a small-town appeal that draws people back home every Hari Raya. Yes, nothing has changed; the water in some areas is non-existent, the internet is scrappy at best, and we remain the poorest state despite numerous natural resources. So, if elections were held to bring about change, my grandson asks, why is there no change? Good questions often have no answers. After 33 years, I am stumped too.

Perhaps, being in a strongly Islamic state, democracy is an alien concept? For change to occur, perhaps we need a theocracy? The early Islamic scholar Al-Farabi said that in the absence of the prophet, he considered democracy as the closest to the ideal state. He cited the Rashidun caliphate as an example. During its existence, the empire was the most powerful economic, cultural, and military force in West Asia. Yet, he also cautioned that it was from democracy that the Ummayad and Abbasid dynasties arose. Democracy matters, and the onus is on you to come back and vote for change in the democratic way. Your voice matters.

In the early ’60s, I recall a lot of anxiety during elections. We stayed in Penang then, and your great-grandfather was a returning officer. I recall how worried my mother was. How she was hoarding rice and cans of sardines in case of a “hartal”. Now, it makes me happy that you do not even know what a “hartal” is. Yes, in many ways, things have changed, and we want a peaceful political landscape. We must never go back to the fear and anxiety that your great-grandparents experienced in the ’60s.

Right now, we are in the midst of election campaigns. There are so many green flags and green banners everywhere, one could be forgiven in thinking that all this green represents the greening of the environment, the preservation of our natural resources and an end to illegal logging. But I am wrong in one aspect. In a sense, things have changed. The mangroves are disappearing, the illegal logging has contributed to the massive floods during the monsoon and the water quality is literally “to die for”.

There are red and blue flags and banners too. There are posters, headlines, and television coverage. Social media is alight with political messages, all of which call attention to the various political parties and their views on nationalism or patriotism, reform or revolution, past glory, or future promise. Whatever the party, it certainly breaks the monotony of everyday life here in Kota Bharu.

Find your moral compass

Firstly, my grandson, it begins with you. You need to find your moral compass, your personal guide to what is right and what is wrong. Self-reflection, learning about other perspectives, your religious beliefs and talking about values with friends and family can all help you find your moral compass. What are your views on the environment? How do your values shape your ideas on corruption? What part of the education system are you most concerned about? Or is it the price of chickens that sets your political heart on fire?

I do admit that navigating these pre-election days can be a highly emotional rollercoaster ride. All politicians engage in rhetoric. All your family members, including your grandmother, seem to be highly opinionated. So how do you separate the wheat from the chaff? My advice is to listen carefully. Empty rhetoric are merely hollow promises; words uttered without any attempt to take the action necessary to back them up. They are empty promises without a proven track record. Once they have your attention and your vote, these promises will be ignored or forgotten.

On the other hand, Aristotle said that true politicians talk about possible futures and look at the past “as a guide to the future and at the future as a natural extension of the present”… These are the politicians who are true to their words. They have a track record that demonstrably backs up the rhetoric. Read their manifestos and evaluate their track record. So, listen well and read carefully and then make your decision.

Focus on issues, not the candidate

My dear grandson, when it came to politics, my parents were solidly blue. On the other hand, your grandfather’s household was solidly green. Traditionally, this is how it has always been since the first elections in 1952. Historically, Malaysians have always voted along party lines. You need to move away from this paradigm. You must be more discerning about the politicians who want your vote.

There are so many issues at stake today. They will affect your life in a very tangible way. At times, I feel guilty because our previous choices may have a negative impact on you and your future children. Let it not be true that the sins of the father will be visited on their children.

What really matters are the issues: economics, education, environment, and an end to corruption, amongst others. Cast your vote in a way that will have the most significant impact on your community. Vote for candidates with a stance on issues that matter and for their ability to follow through. Which candidate has a better understanding of the policies that will affect you? Who is better positioned to bring about the changes you wish to see? Focus on the issues, not the candidate. When you do this, you cut through all that background noise and get to the significant part. Then you can make an informed decision.

Anything less than this and you are in danger of voting into office someone whose policies may be destructive to the environment or detrimental to a particular demographic.

Filter your social media

Malaysia has a well-developed social media ecosystem. There were 33.03 million internet users in Malaysia with an internet penetration rate of 96.8% of the total population at the start of 2023. We are familiar with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok where the user demographics are skewed heavily in favour of youngsters and young adults.

My grandson, I am not wrong when I say you spend too much time on TikTok! Social media has a profound effect on elections. It amplifies and reinforces political messages and can perpetuate partisan views. You are being bombarded across the political divide by facts, figures, and misinformation as well.

Whatever political content you explore in social media, do it with care. Your role is to filter the truth from the misinformation, half-truths and lies. Fake news is nothing new. The only difference is how quickly it can be shared on a massive scale. You have a big responsibility here. As always it is back to your moral compass. Always check your sources, always verify what you view online. Develop a critical mindset with a healthy dose of scepticism.

Keep in mind the butterfly effect

In 1972, Edward Lorenz described this effect in a paper titled “Predictability: Does the Flap of a Butterfly’s Wings in Brazil Set Off a Tornado in Texas?” The butterfly effect rests on the notion that the world is deeply interconnected, such that one small occurrence can influence a much larger complex system.

Your vote is the butterfly that will determine the course we are setting for the future of Malaysia. Your choice will have global repercussions. Your vote can help create a net-zero carbon footprint in Malaysia with better air quality across the globe. Your vote can reclaim our rainforests as the green lung of the world. Your vote can eradicate poverty. According to the butterfly effect, small things can make a big impact. One vote – your vote – can make a world of difference. You can create lasting change.

Come home and choose wisely. - FMT

Prof Dr Zalina Ismail is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.