Election Rule 49-O of world's largest democracy which allows for voters to exercise their right to dissent with the list of candidates is a good system to adopt, say groups.
PETALING JAYA: India, traditionally considered the world’s largest democracy, not only empowers its people to vote for its MP or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) through the ballot but also allows them to reject candidates running in the polls using the same ballot.
Known as Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rule 1961, voters not agreerable to the candidates contesting can tick a specific column in the same ballot paper to allow them to express their decision not to vote for any of the candidates.
This not only sends a message to the political parties on the suitablility (or unsuitability) of their chosen candidates, but also prevents election fraud and misuse of votes.
Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Shaani Abdullah welcomed the idea of such a system in Malaysia, saying it allows the electorate to reject unsuitable candidates.
“If it empowers the people to choose their representative, then it must be good,” said Shaani. “It will compel candidates to work harder to retain their seats and also curb political parties from ‘parachuting’ unknown candidates to be fielded in a constituency.”
“It would also reduce instances of candidates toeing party lines too much, instead of speaking up boldly for their voters in parliament or the state assembly. In a democratic system, the MPs or the state assemblymen must voice the people’s aspiration,” he said.
Shaani acknowledged the system may likely create a mess of the electoral process if hundreds of constituencies reject their
candidates “but as time goes by, political parties will learn to field credible candidates and such problems will eventually be reduced.”
Concurring with Shaani, National Institute of Electoral Integrity (NIEI) director Amin Iskandar said Rule 49-O, if it is adopted, would help increase voter turnout as currently many are not willing to exercise their right to vote because they do not like the candidates.
“Even countries like Thailand and Bangladesh have this system. Voters here need to be educated on the system. Once they know why it is in place, then they will be able to use the system judiciously,” said Amin.
Much study needed
Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) deputy chairman Shaharuddin Othman said while he lauds Rule 49-O, much study was needed before adopting it and also the process must be legislated first before implementation.
He said the election process in India had evolved based on the needs and aspirations of its people and Rule 49-O was a product of the process. “To implement it as the law here, much work needs to be done to change our electoral process,” said Shaharuddin.
Meanwhile, Election Commission deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar dismissed the idea, saying Malaysia already has a working and established electoral system in place.
“Our system of assemblymen representing political parties works well in our country. Rule 49-O will only complicate things,”said Wan Ahmad when contacted.
He added that it would not solve any problem as voters would then have conflicting ideas on the candidates. Wan Ahmad said candidates have to implement whatever their party had promised during campaigns in order to retain their seats.
“If not, they will be punished at the next polls. Besides, individual candidates cannot do much without their party’s support,” he said.
PETALING JAYA: India, traditionally considered the world’s largest democracy, not only empowers its people to vote for its MP or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) through the ballot but also allows them to reject candidates running in the polls using the same ballot.Known as Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rule 1961, voters not agreerable to the candidates contesting can tick a specific column in the same ballot paper to allow them to express their decision not to vote for any of the candidates.
This not only sends a message to the political parties on the suitablility (or unsuitability) of their chosen candidates, but also prevents election fraud and misuse of votes.
Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Shaani Abdullah welcomed the idea of such a system in Malaysia, saying it allows the electorate to reject unsuitable candidates.
“If it empowers the people to choose their representative, then it must be good,” said Shaani. “It will compel candidates to work harder to retain their seats and also curb political parties from ‘parachuting’ unknown candidates to be fielded in a constituency.”
“It would also reduce instances of candidates toeing party lines too much, instead of speaking up boldly for their voters in parliament or the state assembly. In a democratic system, the MPs or the state assemblymen must voice the people’s aspiration,” he said.
Shaani acknowledged the system may likely create a mess of the electoral process if hundreds of constituencies reject their
candidates “but as time goes by, political parties will learn to field credible candidates and such problems will eventually be reduced.”
Concurring with Shaani, National Institute of Electoral Integrity (NIEI) director Amin Iskandar said Rule 49-O, if it is adopted, would help increase voter turnout as currently many are not willing to exercise their right to vote because they do not like the candidates.
“Even countries like Thailand and Bangladesh have this system. Voters here need to be educated on the system. Once they know why it is in place, then they will be able to use the system judiciously,” said Amin.
Much study needed
Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) deputy chairman Shaharuddin Othman said while he lauds Rule 49-O, much study was needed before adopting it and also the process must be legislated first before implementation.
He said the election process in India had evolved based on the needs and aspirations of its people and Rule 49-O was a product of the process. “To implement it as the law here, much work needs to be done to change our electoral process,” said Shaharuddin.
Meanwhile, Election Commission deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar dismissed the idea, saying Malaysia already has a working and established electoral system in place.
“Our system of assemblymen representing political parties works well in our country. Rule 49-O will only complicate things,”said Wan Ahmad when contacted.
He added that it would not solve any problem as voters would then have conflicting ideas on the candidates. Wan Ahmad said candidates have to implement whatever their party had promised during campaigns in order to retain their seats.
“If not, they will be punished at the next polls. Besides, individual candidates cannot do much without their party’s support,” he said.
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