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After standing in long lines, the very act of marking your fingers with ink and putting a cross in a box next to a name sends a sense of relief through your body, as an anxiety-inducing election will soon reach its finishing line. However, that is swiftly followed by a melange of emotions cropping up. Your heart is suddenly beating fast, your mind is racing, you’re having trouble sleeping, and you’re exhausted and overwhelmed from consuming the news outlet on end, uncertain of what the next years will hold. These are valid feelings and are soon to be experienced by millions of Malaysians. 

Following Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s dissolution of Parliament on 10 October, Malaysia is scheduled to hold its 15th General Election within 60 days from then onwards. The countdown has been ticking ever since. Over the next two weeks, campaigning machinery will take place where political parties will muster money and resources to win the hearts and minds of Malaysians. The future is obscure. 

Whether we like it or not, the public is encouraged to vote, ultimately setting Malaysia’s path for its economic, political, and social scene for years to come. As political instability prevails, we begin to stumble upon the following questions: ‘Does my vote matter?’, ‘What’s wrong with not voting if it doesn’t affect me?’, or ‘Politics is dirty. Why should I be involved anyways?’ 

From student movements to a constitutional amendment, the Malaysian parliament has approved the Undi18 bill, effectively reducing the voting age from 21 to 18. For some, this has been an adjustment. First-time voters are scrambling through any pieces of information they can get their hands on, attempting to understand the functions of state institutions, the mechanisms of civic participation, and involvement in political life. 

Going into uncharted waters, voting for the very first time goes beyond high school textbooks; our young people are on their own, questioning the veracity of sources they come across and doubting if the politicians they witness through television, radio, and social media want to enact meaningful change or if it is simply a disillusionment filled with empty promises. These complex situations have demotivated them to cast their political voices, plunging them into political apathy. 

Political apathy refers to feelings of disinterest or indifference toward politics and political activities. These feelings have been translated across social media where the voices of Malaysian citizens express their concerns that the current political system no longer works for them. Some even go so far as to influence eligible GE15 voters that it will be a futile exercise. These observations have been proven through statistics: 70% of Malaysian youths have little interest in learning politics and another 78% state that politics and governmental issues are too complicated. 

Moreover, the unexpected resignation of Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister, resulting in the switch of allegiance of some opposition leaders to his successor Muhyiddin Yassin has deepened the trust deficiency in state institutions and the government. The Sheraton Move of 2020 only reinforced the question as to ‘why even bother?’. Malaysians are barely convinced that their vote will have any impact and believe politicians will subvert the results.

However, people fail to realise the decision to be politically unaware is no longer a choice. The White Flag movement, which took place amidst high positive Covid cases in 2021 is a prime example that the preferential privileges of the governing elites have impacted the livelihood and welfare of the state. At every corner, horrors of white flags hanging perilously from doors and windows signalled economic distress as families were in search of necessities of food and medical assistance at a time the government was helpless in guiding Malaysia through an atrophying state and a troubled economy. Significantly, it illustrates that the act of ignorance creates a chain of reactions, affecting people beyond your circle. 

Furthermore, Malaysians should also acknowledge the upcoming GE15 will not be the same as previous elections as pivotal changes have been made. For instance, the Anti-Party Hopping Bill was passed to ensure all members of Dewan Rakyat uphold and stick to the party they represent, making voting more accessible through extended hours, flexibility on postal voting, and a younger cohort of voters. These steps show that Malaysia is positioning itself as a more democratic government, which will hopefully instil confidence in the parliamentary system, making it more crucial that each individual does their part in submitting their votes. 

To not believe in the power of voting means to lose faith in democracy. It cannot be denied that Malaysia’s political landscape has been fractured with three prime ministers being appointed in three years and 12 by-elections and four state elections being held. However, we now have a righteous wind in our sails and that steadies our ship as we move to meet the challenges that face us. Therefore, it is our responsibility to create a civically involved state and do the best within our capabilities to make a wise decision for the upcoming ‘mother of all elections, choosing a leader who would welcome a new era of Malaysia — filled with transparency, accountability, and prosperity. 

As November seeps in, the voting games will begin. So, let us all hope the odds of this year’s election be in our favour. 

References:

• Political Literacy among Youths: A Never Ending Discourse | Malaysian Students’ Global Allianve 
• A Tumultuous Year In  Malaysian Politicking | Centre for Strategic and International Studies
• 4 Changes That Will Make Malaysia’s GE15 Significantly Different From Past Elections | SEA Mashable
• GE15 Ahead of ‘Mother of All Elections’, Voters More Mature, Savvy Now, Says Observer | The Malay Mail