KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 — If you do not register and vote in the election,
you have “no right” to complain about unfavourable government decisions,
the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism,
Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) said today.
The non-Muslim inter-faith body added a person’s failure to
participate in the election was tantamount to saying he or she does not
care about how the country is run.
“If you don’t care, what gives you the right to complain when
something happens that you don’t like?” MCCBCHST president Daozhang Tan
Hoe Chieow said today in a press conference.
He said in Election 2008, of the 15 million eligible voters in
Malaysia, only eight million turned up to cast their voters. A total of
11 million were registered voters.
“Seven million (voters) were missing in action,” he said.
Tan said the council plans to embark on a nationwide voter
registration drive on Sunday, December 11, at places of worship in 11
states and one Federal Territory.
“Just from the statistics, we know there are 4.384 million eligible voters who are not registered.
“We hope we can choose a government that is clean and transparent and
people-centric, a government that can continue this prosperity,
stability and harmony,” he said.
Tan denied the council’s registration drive was politically-driven,
saying that as a non-governmental organisation it was duty-bound to
ensure voters are registered.
“This is non-political. It is more about awareness,” he said.
MCCBCHST Rev Dr Thomas Phillip agreed, saying religious leaders had a
duty to help raise awareness on the importance of ensuring the country
is led the right way.
“Our involvement is as religious leaders. It is our civil duty and responsibility to help people to be aware,” he said.
“To add, I think all religions teach us two things — duty and
responsibility. And this is what we want to encourage,” said MCCBCHST
secretary-general Prematilaka KD. Serisena.
The council, a signatory to Bersih 2.0, the election watchdog that
staged the July 9 march for free and fair elections, also urged the
government to implement the first round of recommendations made by the
parliamentary select committee (PSC) for electoral reforms before the
coming 13th general election.
The council’s nationwide drive will be held from 9am to 2pm at
Pertubuhan Buddhist Perlis, Perlis; Malaysia Hindu Sangam, Sungai
Petani, Kedah; Malaysia Buddhist Association, Ipoh, Tokong Hock Soon
Keong, Teluk Intan, and SMK Perempuan Perak, in Perak; Kelantan Buddhist
Association, Kelantan; Punjabi Language Centre, Seremban, Negri
Sembilan; St Peter Church, Malacca; Sacred Heart Church, Taman Sri
Tebrau and Sri Mariammaman Temple, Batu Pahat in Johor; Malaysia Hindu
Sangam, Jalan Beringin, off Jalan Temerloh, Pahang; and Gurdwara Sahib
Petaling Jaya.
No comments:
Post a Comment