Two years ago, Malaysians wrote history by weakening UMNO/Barisan Nasional’s electoral one-party state. For the first time since independence, the ruling coalition lost its two-third parliamentary majority and a total of five states were ruled by the opposition parties.
As a result, Malaysians have benefited tremendously from the vibrant competition between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. As Pakatan Rakyat advocates “Ketuanan Rakyat” and values like competence, accountability and transparency, Barisan Nasional under Prime Minister Najib Razak has responded with his “1Malaysia” campaign and “Government Transformation Programme”. In brief, Malaysians are enjoying the bonus of democratisation.
Unfortunately, the budding democratisation is also threatened by some politicians from both sides of the divides who refuse to accept “democracy as the only game in town” and try to subvert or undermine the voters’ verdict through some or all of these four unscrupulous means: (a) defection and change of government without fresh elections; (b) politically-motivated investigation, prosecution, harassment and detention of opposition leaders, civil society activists, journalists and bloggers; (c) discrimination in development funding against opposition-run state governments and opposition-won constituencies; (d) media campaign to play up ethno-religious sentiments and to delegitimize the opposition.
These undemocratic acts disrupt our public life and threaten political stability. The latest defection and quitting of PKR lawmakers are both a betrayal to their voters and an assault to Malaysia’s party system. Malaysia would be in total chaos and may witness coups if popular mandate can be ignored and violated at whim.
On the 2nd anniversary of March 8 election, we the undersigned civil society groups call upon all political parties to respect the voters’ verdict and demand for competitive politics made on March 8 2008. We urge them to promise the following six basic reforms in their present or future capacity as federal and state governments.
1. That Article 48(6) of the Federal Constitution and similar provisions in state constitutions be amended to allow elected representatives resign and re-contest when they disagree with their party.
2. That “recall elections” be introduced so that voters may sack elected representatives who underperform or betray their mandate.
3. That the Federal Government respects the spirit of federalism and treat all state governments and members of parliament without discrimination regardless of party affiliation in term of grants, subsidies, royalties, allowance, support etc.
4. That the State Governments treats all state assemblypersons without discrimination regardless of party affiliation in term of allowance and support;
5. That the Federal Government and the state governments amend the Federal Constitution and all the related laws to facilitate the conduct of local governments elections so that all parties may have the opportunity to win representation in local governments.
6. That all anti-human rights legislations be repealed and all politically-motivated investigation and prosecution be stopped immediately.
We also call upon all Malaysians to pursue these demands with both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. We call upon all eligible Malaysians who have not registered as voters to do so immediately.
We must defend the fruit of March 8 and defeat all attempts to roll back the democratisation process. Come next elections, let us cast our votes based on the coalitions’ fulfilment of or commitments to these demands.
Let us reclaim our country and make democracy the only game in town.
Endorsing Civil Society Groups:
1. Academy of Tamil Studies
2. Aliran Kesedaran Negara (Aliran)
3. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
4. Astronomical Research Society of Selangor
5. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
6. Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI)
7. Centre of Education. Research and Development (CEDAR)
8. Child Development Initiative
9. Civil Right Committee, Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)
10. Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI@Parliament)
11. Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM)
12. Council of Temples Malaysia
13. Education and Research Association of Consumer, Malaysia
14. Federation of Indian Non-Governmental Organisations
15. Gabungan Pertubuhan-pertubuhan Masyarakat India Selangor
16. Gerakan Maju Mahasiswa UPM (GMM UPM)
17. Global Tamil Forum Malaysian Chapter
18. Group of Concerned Citizens
19. Indian Builders Association of Malaysia
20. Indian Malaysian Active Generation (IMAGE)
21. Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
22. Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM)
23. Johor Tamizhar Sangam
24. Kelab Bell Belia Selangor
25. Klang Consumer Association
26. Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section
27. Kuala Lumpur Hindu Youth Organisation (KLHYO)
28. Kuala Lumpur Indian Entrepreneurs and Professionals
29. LLG Cultural Development Centre Bhd (LLG)
30. Majlis Kelab Bell Belia Tamil Malaysia
31. Malaysia Arulneri Thirukootam
32. Malaysia Hindu Associates of Graduates
33. Malaysia Hindu Dharma Mamandram
34. Malaysia Indian Progressive Educational Society
35. Malaysia Lekshmi Pooja Meditation Society
36. Malaysia Tamil Artiste Association
37. Malaysia Tamil Neri Kalagam
38. Malaysia Thanavasiya Association
39. Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)
40. Malaysian Association of Indian University Graduates
41. Malaysian Dravidian Association
42. Malaysian Indian Business Association
43. Malaysian Indian Development & Unity Association
44. Malaysian Indian Entrepreneurs and Professionals
45. Malaysian Indian Historical Association
46. Malaysian Indian Youth Development Foundation
47. MalaysianVoters Union (MALVU)
48. Nationwide Human Development And Research Centre
49. Penang Du Zhong Education Society
50. Penang Hindu Saba
51. Penang Indian Entrepreneurs and Professionals
52. Penang Watch
53. Penggerak Belia Zon 23 MPSJ
54. Persahabatan Semparuthi
55. Persatuan Alumni PBT USM Selangor
56. Persatuan Aruloli Mandram, Malaysia
57. Persatuan kebajikan Artis-artis (T) Perak
58. Persatuan Kebajikan Dan Sosial Kamakshi Wilayah Utara
59. Persatuan Kebajikan Masyarakat dan Sosial Kaum India
60. Persatuan Kebajikan MGR
61. Persatuan Kebajikan Namakkal Malaysia
62. Persatuan Kelab Bell Belia Johor Bahru
63. Persatuan Kemajuan Pendidikan Malaysia
64. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
65. Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
66. Persatuan Meditasi Malaysia (Dhyana Ashram)
67. Persatuan Penduduk Taman Muhibbah
68. Persatuan Prihatin Belia Malaysia
69. Persatuan Sangkara Malaysia
70. Persatuan Seni kebudayaan Thamil, Pulau Pinang
71. Persatuan Silambam Malaysia
72. Persatuan Vallalaar Anbu Nilayam
73. Pusat KOMAS (KOMAS)
74. Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
75. Rudra Devi Samaj Malaysia
76. Saiva Sivaneri Mandram Malaysia
77. Sarawak Central Region Friendship Association
78. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
79. Selangor Indian Entrepreneurs and Professionals
80. Serdang Bharu School Alumni Youth Section
81. Seremban Tamilar Sangam
82. Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM)
83. SOS(Save ourselves), Penang
84. Student Progressive Front NEC (SPF NEC)
85. Student Progressive Front USM (SPF USM)
86. Student Progressive Front UUM (SPF UUM)
87. Tenaganita
88. The Micah Mandate (TMM)
89. The New Millennium Indian Business Association of Malaysia
90. Thiruvalluvar Nanneri Mayam Cameron Highlands
91. Thiruvarul Thavaneri Mandram Malaysia
92. Wanita Berdaya Harapan Negara (WIRDA)
93. Workers Organisation of Malaysia (WO)
94. World Tamil Federation – Malaysian Chapter
95. Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
96. Yayasan Penyelidikan dan Pembangunan Pendidikan Tamil Malaysia (Tamil Foundation)
