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Time for people power rule
Malaysia Kini - November 5, 2009
The Malaysian voter's political power lasts only between the 30 and 60 minutes it takes to queue up and cast the ballot for the candidate of their choice and then the politician takes control of the political process.
This is the insight gained by Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) after years of being at the fringes of the political arena in the country which it hopes to bring to an end.
"The people's power lapses soon after having voting in the politician who takes control of the political arena and starts to call the shots," PSM national coordinator and central committee member K Kunasekaran told Malaysiakini today.
"PSM's political struggle is to ensure that every Malaysian is always empowered to have his or her say in every political aspect that affects their livelihood, welfare and economic status," he said.
The party's aim, he added, is to empower people, the stakeholders of the nation, to have the final say in all matters instead of politicians as is the practice now.
"If people's power takes hold in Malaysia than the present culture of rampant corruption and wastage of public funds will be a thing of the past as public accountability takes over," he said.
Wake-up call to rakyat
Towards this aim, PSM has embarked on setting up people consultation councils (PCC) on a national scale in many housing estates where residents have the final say in all matters that affect their welfare.
The socialist party claims that people's power is ensured by three methods through open people's revolution or armed struggle or through the electoral process which is the best choice for Malaysians.
"Malaysians must wake-up to the present political scenario and utilize their people's power to decide the future fate of their nation especially after the March 8 political tsunami hit the country last year.
"They must strengthen their power by voting for a two-party system in the next general elections," he said.
He urged them to break free from the shackles of the 'tidak apa' (don't care) attitude nurtured under 52 years of Barisan Nasional rule and turn the nation's direction towards creating a two-party system which would provide voters with a choice.
Kunasekaran is also coordinating the party's two-day national conference titled The Two-Party System in Malaysia on Nov 14 at the Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur.
Among the panel of VIP speakers are Dr Farish Noor (political scientist), Vipar Daomanee (Turn Left, Thailand) and Dr D Jeyakumar (Sungai Siput MP and PSM CCM), Saifuddin Nasution (PKR Machang MP), Khalid Samad (PAS Shah Alam MP) and Wong Chin Huat (political scientist and activist).
Also included in the agenda is 'Third Force in Malaysia?' which will have three speakers, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan, CCM Muhammad Sabu and former Gerakan state assemblyperson Toh Kin Voon.
When contacted, Arutchelvan said: "Our main aim is to first create a two-party system awareness among Malaysians in the country and demolish the BN's 52-year monopoly rule of the nation."
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