Post election forum: towards 2 parties system or extending 1-party domination?

Election forum: can all parties adjust to their new roles?

Post election forum organised by SUARAM tonite saw 2 speakers looking forward to changes that are in store for Malaysian's democracy: will the political parties adjust towards a new arrangement? The best scenario should see UMNO and BN adjust to be Opposition parties while the PKR-DAP-PAS adjust to be the new ruling parties. In this was a possible 2-parties system may become possible -with the 2 sides alternating to rule the country. Yet this cannot be taken for granted eg if UMNO/BN self-destruct or got crushed by the new ruling parties!!!!

The above possiblity is a worry raised by Wong Chin Huat-one of the 2 speakers-the other being Anil Netto. With the political situation developing faster and faster by the day it is very possible that the PKR-DAP-PAS coalition stand a real chance to take over power Federally -by healthy or unhealthy means. If the current ruling BN get crushed in te process Malaysians will still get a 1-party system -though with a reformed version of BN! If democracy demand alternating of power between parties the demand need to depend on whether the forthcoming ruling parties will allow space to the new Opposition parties to play their democratic roles-or get suppressed like the Opposition parties up to now!

To allow Opposition parties the spaces to operate and represent the voices of those who chosed them (some half the voters in Malaysia) the PKR-DAP-PAS coalition need to appoint an opposition deputy speakers in the state assemblies they control; also to appoint a chair from Opposition to the public account committee; and not to require such a high threshold for Opposition to move a motion in the state assemblies. And if the city councils were to be appointed from among the politicians then Opposition parties need to get their shares of appointtees according to their votes shares.

But will the PKR-DAP-PAS governments accept the roles for the State Oppositions?

Many other issues were also raised on how the parties in the new and evolving scenario would adjust themselves-and how in the process we may see how the people may come close to a chershed 2 parties system as practiced in other democracies. The civil society is reminded to keep a keen eye on the new ruling state governments to see if they would restore local elections as promised, to enact Freedom of Information laws, to authorised free/independent media (using a loophole of Printing Press Act which exempt government bodies from having to aply for yearly licenses), to allow the new Opposition parties to play their rightful roles -as demanded by the ruling parties while they were the Opposition before.

The switch of roles is calling for close watch from the civil society -because it determine whether we will have a 2-parties democracy or another 1-party system taking over in near future!

About 100 people attended the forum -which is less than the 300+ audience at the Mandarin forum last night. The lively debate at the end of the forum was a good sign that Penangites are keeping their eyes open on the new state government.

Ong BK