A third political coalition would be an exciting prospect for the growth of democracy in the nation, said a local academician.
Hailing it as a “good, progressive idea”, academic Sivamurugan Pandian (left) said a third force would ensure that the people have a viable choice among three political coalitions, unlike now.
This was in contrast with the current situation where there were only two choices: Barisan Nasional or the opposition Pakatan Rakyat.
“A third force with a different common agenda would give (the people) realistic political choices.
“This would mature the country's democracy,” the lecturer from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) told Malaysiakini today.
Sivamurugan said a third force would naturally provide a practical and forceful check and balance among all existing political blocks.
It could actually cater for the political aspirations and socio-economic needs of voters who rejected both BN and Pakatan.
He claimed that at least 30 percent of voters, made of mainly civil society groups, human rights organisations, urban middle and lower-middle income groups, would support the third front.
“These voters don't have political allegiance to any party and would welcome alternate political ideas.
“They are mostly cyber-savvy, thus fully aware of the goings-on in the country” he said.
The real kingmakers
The academician said the pendulum swing among these voters were the main reason for the political change in the 2008 general election.
“If the third political coalition could layout and work on a common agenda, albeit differently from BN and Pakatan, it could become a formidable front.
'It should also steer clear from pseudo-religious and ethnic-centric politics,” said Sivamurugan.
A third force is a common phenomena in most democracies globally.
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), though claiming to be Pakatan-friendly independent parties, have not dismissed the idea of forming a third force.
PSM president Mohd Nasir Hashim (below right) said a third political force could emerge if people were unhappy with existing political blocks, which would provide the voters another choice.
PRM vice-president Gary Nair hinted that the third force could well be a hybrid organisation, quasi-political and also non-political, sharing a common political and socio-economy agenda different than others.
He said PRM currently had been exploring all ways and means to forge close ties with the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and its political wing, Human Rights Party (HRP), minority ethnic political groups and civil rights movements.
Sivamurugan said high public interest in the last general election clearly showed politics was no longer the sole property of politicians.
He said the people, especially civil society groups and the human rights movement, wanted to share political power and decision-making power with politicians.
“They no longer want to be bystanders,” he said.
He lamented however, that like BN, Pakatan, which rode on a popular political wave to electoral success, has yet to fulfill public demands for a change in political governance and approach.
“Like BN, Pakatan too focuses mainly on macro, not micro, issues,” he said.
The deputy dean from USM's school of social sciences said the third front could well be a viable political block if it could focus its attention on bread and butter issues.
He cited crime, employment, living costs, affordable housing and public transport among issues that affect people's lives daily.
“The third force's common agenda should focus on these issues,” he suggested.
If the third political block's setup and concept could cater to such common man aspirations, he added, it could give the other coalitions a run for their money.
Hailing it as a “good, progressive idea”, academic Sivamurugan Pandian (left) said a third force would ensure that the people have a viable choice among three political coalitions, unlike now.This was in contrast with the current situation where there were only two choices: Barisan Nasional or the opposition Pakatan Rakyat.
“A third force with a different common agenda would give (the people) realistic political choices.
“This would mature the country's democracy,” the lecturer from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) told Malaysiakini today.
Sivamurugan said a third force would naturally provide a practical and forceful check and balance among all existing political blocks.
It could actually cater for the political aspirations and socio-economic needs of voters who rejected both BN and Pakatan.
He claimed that at least 30 percent of voters, made of mainly civil society groups, human rights organisations, urban middle and lower-middle income groups, would support the third front.
“These voters don't have political allegiance to any party and would welcome alternate political ideas.
“They are mostly cyber-savvy, thus fully aware of the goings-on in the country” he said.
The real kingmakers
The academician said the pendulum swing among these voters were the main reason for the political change in the 2008 general election.
“If the third political coalition could layout and work on a common agenda, albeit differently from BN and Pakatan, it could become a formidable front.'It should also steer clear from pseudo-religious and ethnic-centric politics,” said Sivamurugan.
A third force is a common phenomena in most democracies globally.
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), though claiming to be Pakatan-friendly independent parties, have not dismissed the idea of forming a third force.
PSM president Mohd Nasir Hashim (below right) said a third political force could emerge if people were unhappy with existing political blocks, which would provide the voters another choice.
PRM vice-president Gary Nair hinted that the third force could well be a hybrid organisation, quasi-political and also non-political, sharing a common political and socio-economy agenda different than others.He said PRM currently had been exploring all ways and means to forge close ties with the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and its political wing, Human Rights Party (HRP), minority ethnic political groups and civil rights movements.
Sivamurugan said high public interest in the last general election clearly showed politics was no longer the sole property of politicians.
He said the people, especially civil society groups and the human rights movement, wanted to share political power and decision-making power with politicians.
“They no longer want to be bystanders,” he said.
He lamented however, that like BN, Pakatan, which rode on a popular political wave to electoral success, has yet to fulfill public demands for a change in political governance and approach.
“Like BN, Pakatan too focuses mainly on macro, not micro, issues,” he said.
The deputy dean from USM's school of social sciences said the third front could well be a viable political block if it could focus its attention on bread and butter issues.
He cited crime, employment, living costs, affordable housing and public transport among issues that affect people's lives daily.“The third force's common agenda should focus on these issues,” he suggested.
If the third political block's setup and concept could cater to such common man aspirations, he added, it could give the other coalitions a run for their money.
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