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Saturday, November 19, 2022

Malaysia GE15 election results special, [LIVE HD]

Counting of votes is under way in Malaysia's 15th general election. Watch CNA's live coverage of the results. Latest updates at https://cna.asia/malaysiage15live 

No official decision from Malaysia's king on who will be next prime minister or interim PM. We continue to wait. My earlier tweet was not accurate. Apologies🇲🇾

 

 

Malaysia's hung parliament for first time in history 

CLICK TO ENLARGE 

 

*Hishammuddin Hussein Onn is the real traitor unknown to many!*

GE15: Hishammuddin sticks to 'No Anwar, No DAP' stance     

Barisan must not cooperate with Pakatan, says Hisham

How will BN's 30 seats sway?

PETALING JAYA: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) are ready to give their numbers to Perikatan Nasional in the latter’s bid to form the new Federal Government, but there are doubts as to which way Barisan Nasional’s 30 seats will finally sway.

Analysts believe that although Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin declared that he has the majority to form the government and become the 10th prime minister, there were other possibilities on how alliances to forge a ruling coalition could pan out.

Dr Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said although it seemed like a Perikatan-Barisan-GPS-GRS coalition was “almost a done deal”, Pakatan Harapan would also court Barisan for its numbers.

He felt a Barisan-Pakatan government could also work.

“Logically yes, because there is less competition over the (support) of the same (group) of conservative Malays between Barisan and Pakatan,” he said.

International Islamic University Malaysia’s Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar said it was very possible that Barisan would opt for a Perikatan-led government.

“Although there might still be resistance from the pro-Zahid group, I think eventually Umno will decide to bring Barisan to join this coalition.

“There is a growing discontent within the party and the calls for Barisan chairman (Datuk Seri Dr) Ahmad Zahid (Hamidi) to resign are getting louder,” he said.

CLICK TO ENLARGECLICK TO ENLARGE

He said although a Perikatan-Barisan-GPS-GRS pact would have 131 seats, it would present a “cohesion test” for such a Perikatan-led government.

“It depends on leadership. Will Muhyiddin be able to impose discipline? Will GPS accommodate PAS’ views and vice-versa?” he said.

As for Pakatan, Tunku Mohar said the coalition’s chances to come to power was very slim.

“The only chance is if Barisan decides not to join Perikatan, GPS and GRS,” he added.

He said the possibility of Barisan and Pakatan joining forces would also depend on PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, and DAP and pro-Perikatan MPs being able to accept such a coalition.

It is understood that Umno leaders are also divided over supporting Perikatan or Pakatan.

Commenting on this, Tunku Mohar said it would be a tough call for Barisan.

“It is divided because a faction would not want to work with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, while another would not want to work with Muhyiddin.

“It’s unclear if their division is over policy matters. It has to choose between being a weak coalition partner with Perikatan and a slightly stronger one with Pakatan. It’s a dilemma because it will also affect its survival,” he said.

Pakatan won 81 seats, while Perikatan took 73, GPS 22 and GRS six.

 

BN-PH pact: No DAP or Pakatan government, it's a unity government, says Anwar

I’m the sole PM candidate if Pakatan-Barisan pact works out, says Anwar

 

Terima kasih rakyat Malaysia yang terus sabar menanti. Saya tahu semua orang dan semua pihak cintakan negara ini dan mahukan yang terbaik. #DemiPertiwi

 

Barisan to collectively decide on post-electoral pact by Tuesday, says Dr Wee

Anwar’s PH might not secure enough seats to form majority, says analyst

 

Anwar Ibrahim says his Pakatan Harapan coalition has the numbers to be able to form a government but declines to say which other parties are supporting him. Perikatan Nasional (PN) leader and former Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has left the door open for “like-minded” parties to form a ruling coalition, after results so far showed PN neck and neck with PH. Mr Muhyiddin has ruled out working with PH.

  Latest updates at https://cna.asia/malaysiage15live

 

COMMENTS: PH beat PN by 1.2 million popular votes. 

If PH can't form the government, then the rakyat's mandate is robbed again 🤷🏼‍♂ 

by Tommy 
Thomas the ex AG has stated that the correct procedure in a hung parliament situation is that the constitutional monarch should give the opportunity for the leader of the party with the most seats to form the government. And when parliament convenes in usually, a month, the appointed leader can demonstrate a vote of confidence then. If he cannot then and only then another party be given the chance to lead. 

If such is the case, I hope PH has the plan to mobilise a peaceful show of force at the palace. Must be mostly Melayus. Not like the Bersih rally mostly Chinese and Indians. This King has a unique way of appointing PMs and perhaps he should be guided when the results are there. Even if PH wins 90+ or better 100+, his duty and prerogative is only DSAI. *VERY URGENT, VERY IMPORTANT* . 

The true power of the government lie with the VOTERS, not the party, nor the winning candidates. 

Therefore it's the voters who should be given the mandate to form the government. 

So the analysis of the number of votes that each party has garnered should be considered by the Agong before he invites the party leaderships to form the government.

That indeed is the true strength of any party. 

In a negotiation to form a government all parties are to be recognised only on the aggregate number of votes won by the individual parties, not the number of seats won. That truly is democracy, (government by the majority). The formation of the government cannot be left entirely to 4 or 5 party leaders  or the 112 candidates who won their seats. 

This is a very valid and fairer representation of the 
''government by the people'' (one of the 3 principles of democracy) . 

Pakatan Harapan should present this to the Agong immediately. He should take his time to get the figures of each parties from the SPR. 

 _From Dato Dr Ridzuan 0173887585

Please viral quickly. *Please share this to all Sabahans, Sarawakians, all political parties and all Malaysians*

Please join me to push this

 Pakatan Harapan is to be  given the FIRST right to form the coalition of parties that will make up the simple majority to form Government. Hence, we need to convinve hard that GRS and GPS will join PH. If they don't want to join PH, then the right will be given to the next bloc to garner support from other parties to form the coalition that will make the simple majority.

If any NGO, Association, Councils, Unions, Bodies, Societies, chambers,  communities, please 📣📣📣 *VOICE OUT* the support for PH now before too late.

Actually, we can do something. We are in the marketplace. Share with your business people in Sabah and Sarawak that they should tell GRS and GPS to work with PH and not let the country be governed by an extremist party

*Please share this to all Sabahans, Sarawakians, all political parties and all Malaysians*

Hung parliament for Malaysia, with Pakatan Harapan slightly in front of Perikatan Nasional

Malaysia has a hung parliament, with Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) neck and neck in the race to form a government in the country's 222-seat parliament.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said early on Sunday (Nov 20) that his PH coalition has the numbers to form a government. He did not reveal which parties are supporting him, saying only that he will notify the palace accordingly. 

PN chairman and former Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, on the other hand, said the coalition is ready to work with other parties to form a government, but ruled out joining hands with the PH.

The ruling Barisan Nasional, trailing in the polls, issued a statement saying it accepted the people's decision.

This election was touted as the most hotly contested in the country's history. 

One of the biggest electoral casualties of the night was former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who failed to defend his Langkawi seat. It is his first defeat in 53 years.

BN's Khairy Jamaluddin, the health minister who helped to steer Malaysia through the COVID-19 pandemic, also lost his seat, as with finance minister Tengku Zafrul.

Highlights from the results of Malaysia's 15th General Election

Umno swept aside by 'green tsunami'

THE next government is still a work in progress while Malaysians are trying to wrap their heads around the stunning outcome of the 15th General Election (GE15).

As at press time, Barisan Nasional was on the way to a defeat more crushing than in 2018.

There are already calls for Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is Barisan chairman and Umno president, to take responsibility and resign.

The shocker of the night was the dark horse Perikatan Nasional giving Barisan Nasional the fight of its life.

The Malay wave that rumbled towards Perikatan has enabled it to wrest Perlis and and roll over the other Malay states.

Some viewed it as the “green tsunami,” a reference to PAS which is the dominant partner in Perikatan.

The two coalitions were neck-and-neck in many seats and a video from Kepala Batas of Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican conceding defeat to Perikatan a little after 10pm, said it all because an Umno stronghold that was once held by a former prime minister had fallen.

Perikatan, with PAS providing a strong Islamic voice, had sucked away Malay votes that would have otherwise gone to Umno and it included the civil service, Malay professionals and Malay first-time voters.

There is a very powerful subtext to this. It signals that Malays who rejected a Malay party they regarded as tainted had also spurned the multiracial Pakatan Harapan.

They preferred to turn to an alternative that was very much centred around race and religion.

The fact that Perikatan managed to win the prestigious Putrajaya seat was another clear sign that the country’s top civil servants had rejected Barisan.

They felt that Umno had not learnt from the fall of 2018 and had failed to change according to the times.

The economy had affected ordinary people where it hurt most, but corruption and integrity were important issues among the professional class.

There is still no sign of what kind of government will be formed out of this confusing state of affairs.

However, Pakatan captain Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is nearing his dream to be the next prime minister with the credible win by his coalition.

Will he be able to cobble together a coalition government in the coming hours?

Winning so well was tough but the harder part lies ahead.

The new Tambun MP had run a great campaign, igniting excitement in Perak and beyond.

He managed to capture the national mood and public imagination as he zipped from east to west and north to south over the last fortnight.

There was criticism about him jetting about in a private helicopter but it was a necessary mode of transport in order to reach out as extensively as possible.

It also gave him the air of a man on a mission, who was willing to go the distance to achieve his goal.

Many Pakatan supporters who had written him off rallied behind Pakatan as he stirred interest and, more importantly, revived belief in him.

The Chinese especially are still thirsting for a truly Malaysian leader and he seemed to quench their thirst with his multiracial narrative, his energy and his personal charm.

The last general election was shaped by people gravitating towards Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

This election found Malays swaying to Perikatan, a pattern evident in Malay seats all over the country.

The Malay voters had decided to try out a new dish on the political menu.

The atmosphere at the Umno headquarters was not as dazed and shocked as in 2018, but none of them thought that lightning would strike twice.

A voice recording from Melaka Umno chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rauf Yusoh, at about 1pm, instructing the Umno machinery to get their “white voters” out to vote was the first indication of trouble for Barisan.

Barisan had become too complacent after the fantastic wins in Johor and Melaka.

The coalition had called the election confident of being the next government but it seemed out of sorts throughout the campaign.

The campaign lacked oomph! and did not seem coordinated. Barisan failed to show that it was in charge even though Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was the caretaker prime minister.

Ismail Sabri did not travel the country to rally the troops, selecting only certain areas to go to. He did not have a strong narrative and he was eclipsed by Anwar’s star power.

Umno’s Mr Nice Guy was somehow not the average Malaysian’s notion of a prime minister.

Barisan election director Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who did such a great job in the Johor and Melaka elections, could have been more hands on. Instead of moving around to help campaign elsewhere, he kept to Rembau.

But Barisan’s problem was Ahmad Zahid who was like the proverbial sitting duck.

He was the prime target of attacks that highlighted his corruption court case as well as an intense psywar that he would be the prime minister if Barisan wins.

However, he was too powerful in Umno and no one dared to bell the cat.

The most tragic news of the night was Dr Mahathir losing his deposit in Langkawi. It was the ultimate rejection for this once great man who changed the fortunes of this island in the sun.

Turbulent days lie ahead for Malaysia but the voters have decided.



Pakatan wins big in Penang | The Star

 All smiles: Supporters celebrating at the Seberang Prai Vocational College counting centre in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

 

GEORGE TOWN: Pakatan Harapan has lived up to its tag as the favourite, winning 10 of the 13 seats here.

But it was not without a heavy price. PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar lost in her father’s home seat of Permatang Pauh.

The seat had been with her family since 1982, having been won by her father, her mother and herself.

Also falling by the wayside was Barisan Nasional’s incumbent Kepala Batas MP Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

Earlier, Barisan also lost its stronghold in Tasek Gelugor to Perikatan Nasional’s Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan.

DAP, however, had a good outing, making a clean sweep of the seven seats it contested. Leading the way was Penang Pakatan chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who emerged victorious in the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat with ease.

“The election is not about Chow Kon Yeow or Batu Kawan, but it is a call for Malaysia to be saved,” he said afterwards.

Chow, who is in his final term as MP, had moved away from his comfort zone in Tanjong on the island to contest the Batu Kawan seat on the mainland.

His six other party comrades also did equally well.

Shocking defeat: Nurul Izzah reacting to the news of her loss in Permatang Pauh. — Bernama 

Shocking defeat: Nurul Izzah reacting to the news of her loss in Permatang Pauh. — Bernama

They were DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng (Bagan), legal bureau chief Ramkarpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor), organising secretary Steven Sim Chee Keong (Bukit Mertajam), central executive committee members RSN Rayer (Jelutong), and Lim Hui Ying (Tanjong) and Syerleena Abdul Rashid (Bukit Bendera).

As for PKR, it successfully secured the three seats of Balik Pulau, Bayan Baru and Nibong Tebal, despite Nurul Izzah’s defeat.

Wanita PKR chief Fadhlina Sidek was the surprise package, stealing the limelight in Nibong Tebal by gunning down two-term MP Datuk Mansor Othman of Perikatan to cap a memorable political debut.

Mansor had won the seat earlier on a Pakatan ticket before defecting.

The other two PKR seats – Bayan Baru and Balik Pulau – saw incumbents Sim Tze Tzin and Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik emerging victorious in keenly fought contests.

There are 13 parliamentary seats in Penang – six on the island and seven on the mainland.

In the last elections, Pakatan won 11, with DAP getting seven and PKR four while Barisan had two.

Two MPs – one each from Pakatan and Barisan – quit to join Bersatu.

Besides Mansor, the other who defected was Datuk Shahabudin Yahya, who did not contest in Tasek Gelugor this time.

GE15: PH wins big in Penang - New Straits Times

GE15: Penang Pakatan disappointed for not achieving target ...

Malaysia the winner 

 Forming a stable government that lasts

 

Green tsunami that rocked GE15 | The Star


 
PAS sedia pertimbang benarkan pengundi BN masuk syurga.
 

Image

 

Malaysia holding 15th general election

 

 

Related posts:

 

Malaysia holding 15th general election https://youtube.com/shorts/gwvHSbcwyVI?feature=share  Steps to vote in GE15  https://www.thestar.
 
Malaysians abroad rush to send ballots back home for general election   Malaysia holding 15th general election   How does postal voting wo...
...
  Active: Studies have shown that users of public transport have greater health benefits, as users walk or cycle instead of sitting in a car...

      "Aku Malaysia" series - Patrick Teoh No single party has the strength to secure a strong majority in GE15, says observers

 

This is the strongest criticism yet, written by a Malay about the contemptible Malay power elites. Apa Malu! Malays-and-muslim-two-of-a-k.

Friday, November 18, 2022

Postal Voting for General Election GE15 Malaysia

Overseas Malaysians rush to send ballots home, call for postal voting overhaul

 

Guideline for Postal Voter for Malaysia's 15th General Election

 

EC educates voters how to fill postal ballots | Malay Mail

 

Not unusual for postal votes being cast early to meet ...

 

M'sian volunteers in Singapore join global efforts to bring postal votes


Malaysian volunteers in Singapore bring home 9,000 postal votes ...


NZ based Malaysian volunteers help fellow citizens to deliver postal votes in time


You matter, and so does your vote  

 

From a lonely voter


 

THOUSANDS of homesick Malay-sians have already cast their votes through the post, will you be joining them?

People are predicting a general election for the books and no matter what the outcome is, the real shame would be if you don’t vote. The tiresome process that I needed to undergo to exercise my democratic right via the postal ballot left me questioning whether it was worth it – the answer is always yes.

A large portion of overseas voters are students who happen to be first-timers in the whole voting conundrum, and I was one of them. Growing up, my parents instilled in their children the idea that it is important and necessary for us to vote when the time comes. That the responsibility of ensuring we live in a democratic and civilised society does not only fall only on politicians but also on us rakyat too.

Malaysia has been in political turmoil for, arguably, almost two decades, leaving citizens feeling hopeless. Despite the frustrations that we all feel (no matter which side you are on), the main way for us to keep whatever parts of democracy we have left is to show up and vote.

Thankfully for Malaysians in the UK, we were blessed with the kind people of VoteMalaysia who helped us send our votes back. VoteMalay-sia is a nonpartisan coalition of 14 Malaysian youth organisations that strive to keep voting accessible and achievable. If it weren’t for this option, I was looking at paying a minimum of £30 (that is more than RM160!) to post my ballot – and that is only if my ballot arrived on time.

VoteMalaysia set up camps all over Britain; one of them is at the Malaysian Hall in Queensborough Terrace, London. A 20-minute walk and three train changes later, there I was looking up at our Jalur Gemilang drenched in rain at No.34, Queensborough Terrace. Being there with dozens of other Malay-sians eager to bid farewell to a piece of paper, a symbol of our democracy, was an uplifting experience.

If someone had told me four years ago that I would cast my first vote through the post while living in a small flat in London I wouldn’t have believed them.

The rigorous process of applying for postal voting privileges and scrutinising every personal detail on the form scared me. I thought I might make a mistake and that doing so would lose me my right to vote in this election (which happened to my housemate!). The tedious process boiled down to a moment in my living room with my ballot on the ironing board – and I just voted.

Well, OK, not really. You see, the one good thing about voting via post is that you have time to really think about which name you will mark with an “X”. It took me two days to decide, and really, this was the only upside to postal voting for me. As I looked down at my checked ballot and unfortunately stainless finger, I knew I was doing the right thing by voting.

Despite the postal ballot not being my preferred way to vote, it taught me a lot about being a Malaysian. As I was changing my third train that night to send off my ballot, a sense of homesickness washed over me. I wanted to experience queuing up with my family and friends back home and leaving with an ink-stained finger, possibly even bragging about said finger all over Insta-gram.

But that was not on the cards for me. Instead, I was voting alone in a foreign country and wishing the best for Malaysia.

SARAH TAUFEK, London 

 Source link

Infographic: All you need to know about Malaysia's elections

 

Related posts:

  https://youtube.com/shorts/gwvHSbcwyVI?feature=share  Steps to vote in GE15  https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/11/17/step-to...
 

Thursday, November 17, 2022

NEW VOTERS COUNT DOWN TO POLLING DAY, Steps to vote in GE15

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/gwvHSbcwyVI?feature=share

 Steps to vote in GE15 


https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/11/17/step-to-vote-in--ge15#.Y3YRSjUJhqY.telegram
Steps to vote in GE15

;

 


For the first time in the country, Malaysian youths aged 18 and above can vote.

WITH the 15th General Election polling day just around the corner, Malaysians who are eligible to vote will be mulling over their choices of a candidate to represent them in the affairs of running the country.

Many will be travelling, if not already on their way, back to their hometowns to cast that all-important ballot.

The excitement is palpable among some first-time voters who are gearing up for their opportunity to make a difference in the nation’s future.

StarMetro find out from a few new voters how they are preparing for Saturday and what they plan to do after casting their vote.

Umbrella is one of the essential things to bring along when voting in the monsoon season. 
Umbrella is one of the essential things to bring along when voting in the monsoon season.

1. Prepared for rain

As it is currently the monsoon season, rain can be expected on polling day.

The young voters have already picked out an umbrella or raincoat to take along and avoid getting drenched.

“It may be sunny in the morning, so you think it won’t rain. But as it often happens, the moment you step out from your house, the sky turns dark and it starts to pour!” said Tan Wei Ming, a volunteer in Malaysian Red Crescent Society.

“So yes, I’ll be bringing an umbrella with me when I go out to vote,” the 22-year-old added.

Attending ceramah is one of the ways for youths to get information before they can decide who to vote for. 
Attending ceramah is one of the ways for youths to get information before they can decide who to vote for.

2. Gathering information

As the newly minted voters have no experience in voting and not much knowledge about politics, an avenue for the youths to learn and make an informed decision is by attending ceramah (political talks).

“We would gather with friends and attend the public talks together.

“It is exciting to see in person the public personalities we have heard and read about, including Uncle Kentang. I am thrilled to listen to their talks too,“ said Tan.

3. Seeking wise counsel

Parents are often the first and primary source of advice for the youths voting in their first general election.

Tan along with 18-year-olds Wong Zhi Qi and Leong Wei Qi look to their own parents for constructive opinions when it comes to candidate choice.

They said that they had discussed with the older folks at home about the achievements and contributions made by candidates in their respective constituencies.

4. Parents’ choice

At the end of the day, if they are still unable to make up their mind, the youths say they will just decide that “parents know best” and vote according to their parents’ choice of candidate or party.

5. Look-at-me hair

The adventurous young voters passionate about the parties they support might turn up with hair dyed in the corresponding colours.

Some may be considering showing up at polling centres with attention-grabbing hair colour to liven things up.

Tan will be embarking on a food trail when he is back in his hometown of Penang. 
Tan will be embarking on a food trail when he is back in his hometown of Penang.

6. Looking for food

Tan, who is taking a diploma in culinary art, is looking forward to a food-tasting outing around the polling centre where he is voting.

“It is always hectic for college students, especially for those who need to rush to their part-time job after classes.

“I have been eating mixed rice since I started college and I am bored with it

“I can finally use this opportunity to look for what’s good to eat around the polling centre,” he said.

He added that he would first be headed to a Korean barbeque restaurant after voting.

7. Looking for food (Part II)

Tan is also determined to hunt down traditional food while back in his hometown of Penang.

“I will take this opportunity to visit the traditional restaurants that are still surviving in my hometown, as a lot of them have closed down after the Covid-19 pandemic hit and the subsequent movement control order,” he said, adding that he would always give his support to such eateries whenever he could.

8. Shopping time

In light of the numerous offers from retail stores to encourage Malaysians to go out to vote, the young voters are seizing this chance to do their shopping for Christmas as well as everyday essentials.

Voters only need to show their index finger with the indelible ink to be eligible for the special deals and promotions in conjunction with the general election.

College students like Tan are looking forward to the various discounts, as for them it would mean savings in expenses for numerous things from clothes and shoes to skincare and toiletries.

“A lot of discounts are available at malls, we just have to show our inked index finger,” said Wei Qi, who is working part-time at a mobile phone shop in Puchong, Selangor.

“Then I’ll post the photos on IG!” she added.

9. Meet and chill

This is a great opportunity for people who have been away from home to catch up with their parents, family members and friends.

“I can finally lepak (hang out) at home and chill out with my pet. I miss my dog,” said Tan.

“More importantly, because of the public holiday, I have an extra day to sleep in,” he said.

He is also planning to catch a movie with friends the day after polling.

“College students do not have enough time to hang out with friends because we are occupied with assignments, exams and part-time job or volunteer activities. So this short break is a great time for me to meet up with friends here,” he said.

He added that he would also be using the free time to catch up on Asian television dramas.

Zhi Qi says voters going back home for polling day should take the time to de-clutter their bedroom..

Zhi Qi says voters going back home for polling day should take the time to de-clutter their bedroom.

10. De-clutter mission

Zhi Qi, who is from Kajang, pointed out that those from out-of-town would usually pack a lot of things to bring back home.

“So de-cluttering the bedroom is a must. We need to clear out our old stuff so that we can have space for new things,” she said. 

Source link

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Highlights from Xi’s speech at G20 Summit

 G20 Photo:VCG

Xi urges inclusive global development, warns against bloc confrontation at G20 summit

Speaking at the G20 Leaders' Summit in Bali, Indonesia on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for unity and inclusive ...

 China's shining diplomacy at G20 summit good for world

China's shining diplomacy at G20 summit good for world: Global Times editorial

China's major-country diplomacy has shown shining performance at the G20 summit, which is good news for the region and the whole world that are crisis-ridden.

Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT

Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT


 
Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT

Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT


 
Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT

Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT


 
Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT

Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT


 
Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT

Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT


 
Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT

Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT

 

 

Xi calls for unity of international community at G20 summit as world ...

 Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of unity among the international community when addressing the G20 summit on Tuesday

  

Related posts:

    Some high-stakes diplomacy already in motion, ahead of the key G20 summit that kicks off tomorrow (Nov 15) in Bali. Leaders of the world...
 
 

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Charting Malaysia’s direction

 

Active: Studies have shown that users of public transport have greater health benefits, as users walk or cycle instead of sitting in a car. — Filepic


 

MALAYSIA has experienced an extremely eventful period since the last general election in 2018. Since then, we have seen political instability with three prime ministers and three health ministers, a global pandemic causing five million cases and 36,000 deaths in Malaysia, multiple floods, a slowing economy, and rising cost of living.

The existence of the #RakyatJagaRakyat, #KitaJagaKita, and white flag movements paint the narrative of the rakyat feeling that they must be self-reliant and must depend on one another.

This solidarity is important. What’s equally important is to choose our political leaders carefully, in the form of elections.

While a general election is not a reset button which provides an immediate solution, it does offer a chance for the rakyat to chart Malaysia’s direction over the next five years.

In an increasingly crowded political climate, every vote matters. For example, in 2018, the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) seat of Ajil in Terengganu was won by a meagre margin of only four votes. This shows every vote is important and has the potential to determine who does or does not become the rakyat’s representative to Parliament or SLAs. Therefore, all Malaysians must exercise their constitutional right (and duty) to vote.

With the 15th General Election and state elections for Pahang, Perak, and Perlis falling on 19 Nov 2022, these are what we, as health practitioners, would like to see candidates offer:

Prioritise health in all policies:

Health is an important component in all public policies, not just in the Health Ministry. This is because health is affected by various factors associated with everyday living, from transport to employment rights, gender rights, poverty eradication and education. This is termed as the social determinants of health. For example, policies which make public transport safe and accessible would encourage public use of trains or buses, which could reduce stress and help address climate change.

Studies have shown users of public transport also have greater health benefits, as users walk or cycle instead of sitting in a car. This not only increases the fitness level of the users, but also reduces the risk of diabetes and hypertension.

This example shows the intricate connection between policies and health. Hence, when addressing voters with their manifestos, we look forward to candidates putting forward policies which champion the health and wellbeing of the rakyat, and for elected representatives to lobby and implement good health-centric policies.

Build continuity into the health reform process:

Many Bills were presented or planned to be presented to Parliament prior to its dissolution, for example, the Generational End Game anti-smoking bill and the Health Reforms White Paper. These two bills represent long-term efforts to reform the health system to improve the health of Malaysians, introduced by the strong and capable Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

These two Bills must survive the political transition process. Therefore, the reform process must be equipped with safeguards which allow them to be carried out on “autopilot mode” by our very competent civil servants, and ongoing projects should not be scrapped without good reason.

It is our sincere hope that whoever forms the government next would minimise the delay of the health reform process and build continuity into the health reform process.  

Place capable individuals in positions of leadership:

Good practices begin with good leadership and placing the right persons in the right positions has strong implications. In past years, there have been individuals being celebrated for the impact they make despite the short duration of governance. Candidates for the elections, and subsequently for ministerial positions, must be made based on competence, merit, and their qualifications.

Specifically, the appointment of the health minister is important because we need people who can understand the needs and nuances associated with the role. While there have been strong performances from ministers without a medical background, the eventual government can also appoint non-elected and well-qualified technocrats to the role.

Besides that, the appointments to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Health, Science, and Innovation are important as well. The PSC must provide strong recommendations and play an instrumental role in providing check and balance, to contribute to the strong performance of the Health Ministry in recent years.

Finally, while it is easy to forget, we are still in the middle of a pandemic. The Omicron sublineage variant of XBB has been reported to be the most antibody-evasive variant identified to date. It has been identified in over 26 countries and is spreading rapidly. In Malaysia, the seven-day average new case is nearing the 3,000 mark, which was last breached two months ago. Hence, we strongly encourage election campaigners to take necessary steps including holding virtual ceramah on social media to limit the spread of infection. Candidates being given equal airtime on mainstream media would be an efficient way to prevent the spread of infection as well.

At the same time, campaign managers should seek expert opinion prior to organising events as well. With the threat of the flood season, election campaigners must make sure the safety of the campaigners and the crowd are prioritised during the campaign and also on polling day. The Meteorological Department’s reports should be heeded and, should the event of disasters such as floods take place, the priority should be to save lives and ensure aid reaches affected families.

Come Nov 19, Malaysians have a chance to reset and restart the country. While the election has to take place, we must ensure it is a safe one for all involved: For voters, officials, volunteers, and candidates. We look forward to the safe execution of the 15th General Election and hope that the best of Malaysia will be elected, and not incompetent, corrupt, or divisive politicians.

DR SEAN THUM and DR KHOR SWEE KHENG

(Drs Sean Thum and Khor Swee Kheng are part of the Malaysian Health Coalition) 

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