GEORGE TOWN: There is no necessity in holding the federal and state elections the same time, a senior state DAP leader said today.
Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy said holding federal and state elections at different times might be in the larger interest of the people.
He said states might not want to hold their elections at the same time as the federal government for certain reasons - social and economic conditions might militate the holding of simultaneous elections.
"Holding of both sets of elections at different times might even promote diversity and democracy," he said in a posting on his Facebook page.
Yesterday, the Pakatan Harapan national leadership declared that the three states under its control - Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan - might not go along with the federal government in calling for the 15th General Election (GE15) this year.
It was decided in a meeting attended by the three state leaders that holding the election in the monsoon season was not in the best interest of the people.
Rather than preparing for the election to be held this year, the three state governments would be focusing their attention on flood mitigation programmes and ways to assist the victims.
Ramasamy said Umno had been insisting for some time that the GE15 should be held this year, rain or shine.
This, he added, was based on the logic that Barisan Nasional stood a better chance of winning the election if it was held this year.
"The predictive abilities of Umno seems amazing. One wonders whether they have obtained the services of the 'bomoh' to be so sure of winning this year. If Umno can win this year, then why can't the party win if the election is held next year? What is going to change in a matter of few months?
"It is not that the corruption among certain Umno leaders is something new. The involvement of the top Umno leaders in scandals such as the 1MDB and others have been exposed to the public.
"Umno's move to go for the GE15 this year is to achieve an electoral victory as soon as possible," he added, noting that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob resisted the move for a while, but the were indications he might have capitulated to the sectarian interests of the Umno court cluster.
According to Ramasamy, it boils down to the fact that only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has the constitutional powers to hold off the election this year.
He pointed that even if Ismail Sabri sought the King's advice in the dissolution of Parliament, the ruler could withhold his consent.
"I am sure Hisi Majesty is well informed about the weather conditions and their consequences on the people.
"I think it certainly a right move on the part of the Pakatan Harapan leadership to withhold the election in the states they control. Going along with the federal government might appear that the PH leadership is no different to the self-seeking leaders at the federal level.
"By withholding the consent to have elections in the three states, the PH leadership can demonstrate that it cares more for the welfare of people than the federal government.
"Whatever said and done, the growing assertion of the states in seeing things differently to the federal government is an indication of a vibrant and healthy democracy.
"Gone are the days when elections for parliament were timed exactly to the those for the state assemblies. I think the role of the opposition, its increasing assertiveness, the undemocratic attempts by the federal government to impose a sense of artificial uniformity and others are signs of changes," he said.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/10/837765/ramasamy-holding-separate-federal-state-elections-promotes-diversity-and
Created by savemalaysia | Mar 29, 2024
Created by savemalaysia | Mar 29, 2024
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Created by savemalaysia | Mar 29, 2024
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Created by savemalaysia | Mar 29, 2024