I’m getting the feeling that too many people are caught up in party politics that they’re forgetting some of the most important thing about democracy. The elections are actually to elect people that the people feel is representing their best interests. Of course, if said representative is in a party and said party is the majority, there’s a greater chance for their motions to go through. If there isn’t a majority, decisions take more time to be made, agreements take more time to be achieved, and things just won’t go as smooth, among other things.

This leaves a gaping loophole that can be abused into cowing people into fearing what would happen to them, if said majority isn’t the one to be the majority, OR, if a minority is claiming to be representing the interest of the many of the public; causing the people to behave irrationally and foolishly.

Let’s leave the examples at that for now, and get to the point. Democracy is the Greek word for people power; demos ‘the people’ + kratia ‘power, rule’. From here, it can be inferred that, the public are the ones responsible for their well-being and upholding their rights. In order to do that, the public elect representatives to represent them, as having everyone to voice out their thoughts would take up too much time that are valuable in the decision-making process. From then on, the points are viewed and reviewed, taking all of the represented voice’s concerns into account, discussing the whole thing, then coming up with solutions to the problem/concerns, and carrying them out. Such is how the process should be.

Now, when we enter the political parties into the equation, we get greater number of voices saying more or less the same thing, or at least, aspiring for ideals and ideas that the voters think are relevant to them. There are instance where these parties make the people think that these things are relevant to them, even when they’re not; but we’ll leave it at that for now. Anyways, what these parties are supposed to do is to represent their voters and address their concerns, while aiming to improve the lives of their voters. Voters in turn, knows what the party is doing and either supports them, criticize them, or is against their ideas and ideals; upon which the voters are free to choose another party or go for the independent candidates. Nothing should be stopping them. Or so I suppose it should be.

Now, looking at the situation closer to home, that is, the original purpose of my writing, I see a lot of the bad things that I said previously, happening. Many people having no idea how democracy works; parties only looking out to get the majority, so that they may do as they please; politicians and political parties bashing each other, without actually taking into account the people’s plight; idiots hijacking causes, and many other issues. What I’m trying to say is, pull it together and be informed people! I’m going to quote the Constitution of Malaysia on something relevant.

Article 43(2)
The Cabinet shall be appointed as follows, that is to say -
(a) the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall first appoint as Perdana Menteri (Prime Minister) to preside over the Cabinet a member of the House of Representative who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House; and
(b) he shall on the advice of the Prime Minister appoint other Menteri (Ministers) from among the members of either House of Parliament;
but if an appointment is made while Parliament is dissolved a person who was a member of the last House of Representatives may be appointed but shall not continue to hold office after the beginning of the next session of Parliament unless, if he has been appointed Prime Minister, he is a member of the new House of Representatives, and in any other case he is a member either of that House or of the Senate.

Now, if any of you lot reading this understands that, it basically means that, if someone is able to command the confidence of the Cabinet, the YDPA may choose him/her to be the Prime Minister. IT DOESN’T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE SOMEONE FROM A MAJOR PARTY. It just has to be someone competent enough to be in charge of the Cabinet, and get things done as the Prime Minister. Doesn’t state what religion or race they have to be either (well, except for 43(7) [Notwithstanding anything in this Article, a person who is a citizen by naturalization or by registration under Article 17[repealed] shall not be appointed Prime Minister.]). Basically, any valid citizen of Malaysia that is a member of the House of Representatives, can become a Prime Minister. Kapisch?

You see, if democracy is properly done, there is no need to be so involved in party politics. The political parties simply serve as a collective representing ideas and ideals, and democracy, as I have explained earlier, should take care of things.

But of course, what am I saying. People are often too stupid to understand how democracy works, and most are too lazy to find out the semantics and philosophy of it, that they’re willing to just listen to the political parties spew their crap, slinging it here and there. Most just want to be with the majority. Most just want to feel safe. Who’d want to be with the minority? Who’s going to listen to them? Who even wants to think? A lot of people wants to become robots, then complains lack of freedom among other things. I’m just rambling here, and if you have any thoughts or ideas or think that I’ve fallen victim to my own fallacy, do tell and share your views. I seek to learn, I seek to become better.

P.S. I noticed that I sound a little, annoyed, but I guess it can’t be helped.