Posted by Adeliyn Lim • Nov 22, 2022
Malaysia had just finished polling for the 15th General Elections and the results are out. Despite the results, let’s talk about the lead up to the current General Election.
The journey of where we are today as a nation started many years ago. The ruling party of the day used the people’s mandate against the people’s will, making policies that stagnated or worsened the country, benefitting some individuals while the country got pittance. Political rivals could be accused of anything and be jailed for it. These years led to a generation of voters questioning themselves and made them scrutinise governments at state and federal levels. From the political crisis in 1999, a new political party formed to challenge the status quo.
At first it did not lead to much. However, a few seats changed how local governments sounded. More people joined this movement and gave rise to new leaders across political parties. Alliances became coalitions. A few years later, some states had a taste of having a government made from a different party and saw hope for a government who worked for the betterment of the people across Malaysia. Irregularities by the electoral roll such as gerrymandering, phantom voters, malapportionment of electoral districts and postal vote frauds instigated the people to many BERSIH rallies. More voices spoke up to what they believe a better Malaysia should and would look like. Malaysians tasted for a brief moment what it is like to have a federal government not from the same old people who held power for many, many years. Reforms made way for Malaysians over the age of 18 to be automatically registered as voters, and the anti-hopping bill was passed.
This is where we are today. Malaysians have come a long way from accepting things as they were, to challenging the status quo, to seeing the results today. Our eyes were opened to the complacency and arrogance of political masters, and the truth of power in voting. Seeds were planted leading to a younger generation of Malaysians stepping into political and social spheres, leading some to step up into leadership roles in their various parties, and step out as candidates to represent their ideals and the people. In the past election cycles, many Malaysians choose not to be complacent, and step out to exercise their right to vote. Even those overseas rose to the challenge to ensure their postal votes arrive back to the respective polling stations on time by creating Whatsapp groups, Excel sheets, organising journey maps to collect votes, pooling money to compensate the costs of the volunteers travelling across the countries, the trip back to Malaysia and for the runners to send the postal votes to the correct polling stations across Malaysia.
Wherever you sit on the political divide, one thing is clear: What started out insignificant became the force it is today. The small increments of change put in place in a persistent and diligent manner over many, many years led to what we have currently. The recent few years have yet to erase the effects from decades of money politics and the brainwashing of racial and religious extremism. Therefore, we are to persist in praying for Malaysia, put in our resources for the causes we support, encourage all generations to be politically astute, as well as provide financial and social support to God-fearing people who are willing to pursue a political career. The Church in Malaysia needs to continue seeking God and pray for God-fearing leaders, taking heed from the Book of Kings: when the Kings feared God, the nation flourished, but when the kings did not fear God, the nation sinned against God and were punished for it.
There is still much work to be done. Let us not give up. Let us not give in. Let us continue to seek God and take hold of opportunities when they are presented to us. Let us persevere for good governance to be upheld in this nation, and that His will be done in our country Malaysia.