Why Should You Register Yourself as a Voter in the First Place

The Malaysian Prime Minister has dissolved the parliament yesterday afternoon, triggering the 12th general election which would be held within 60 days from today. That was also after a big 90 degree turn on his words that he wouldn't dissolve it on Wednesday in an interview with reporters on Tuesday. A colleague said that's what we call a politician. Another rebutted by saying if that was a lowly ranked politician then it's alright but not when he was the prime minister. He's really lousy with his choices of words at times.

A number of colleagues immediately checked their names again to ensure that their names are properly registered at the same constituency / area of voting. (check via this website: http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/daftar.asp)

I did a little survey on a number of colleagues who haven't register to vote even though they were way beyond the minimum age of 21.

Outcome? Of the 4 colleagues who haven't register, one of their names appeared to have been registered. That was a 25% statistics. This colleague was so shock! What do you call this? This is a case of phantom voter. It has always been in the newspaper where oppositions claimed the electoral roll was a farce. The so-called independent Election Commission always maintained that it was clean and updated. I would be conducting more survey on this to see how many persons have been affected.

Good thing that this colleague's name was registered to vote at the Gombak area and the colleague may need to take a short journey there to vote. I said that she should be there early to vote. After that, get the police to stand with her at the names checking counter to nab the phantom voter who would be there to vote as her.

I also reminded her that this phantom voter was also carrying her fake identity card. For those who have not voted/registered, you need to present your original identity card to proof that you were the actual person being present to vote. So, if my colleague has voted while carrying her original identity card, the phantom voter would be shocked when notified that "you have voted earlier". Bear in mind ok, your identity card has another copy out there if it has been used as a phantom voter.

Just when you thought that you won't make a difference with just one vote, those candidates gunning for a win would go all out to secure every single votes available, including this unscrupulous way of using phantom voters.

My point here - even if you were a lazy fella who wouldn't want to line up to vote or couldn't care less about your country, just go and register your name to vote after this election. This move is to avoid your name being manipulated by other parties. Even if you don't intend to vote after that, it's up to you but at least register first. Go to a large post office outlet and you should be able to do so.

Thereafter, I did another survey with some chat friends who were online. I just sent one statement "Are you a registered voter?". Many did respond with some saying they haven't register. For those who did I said "Love you for you had carried out your responsibility well". Some didn't respond with reasons only known to them.

Of those that had responded 2 responded pathetically and if you are reading this blog posting of mine, you know who you are.

What were the responses from this 2 unregistered persons?
- aiyah, my one vote won't make a difference
- whether I vote or not nobody will notice or it won't add/subtract anything
- as if the person I vote for would do something for me
- as if the person I vote for would make a difference at my area
- the country is bad already so no point voting
- if I vote, would it change anything
- even if I did vote for the opposition, the opposition can't rule the country as a whole

Yeah you may tell me off "it's none of your business whether I register to vote or not". Good point there but then think about the followings:-
- you are not qualified to voice out your dissatisfactions against the state government or the federal government as you didn't even vote
- you have to accept whatever that are happening in this country as you didn't vote
- the people that have been elected would actually administrate your country. any wrong moves by them would indirectly affect you personally including your family/relatives/friends too.

My viewpoint: Do carry out your responsibility as a Malaysian citizen wisely.

By the way, the nomination day of candidates standing for election will be on 24 February 2008 and election day will be on 8 March 2008, Saturday.

Another thing, the TV would be airing a short clip telling people to be quiet on whom they would be voting for stating that such thing is a secret. What a crap indeed. Today's Star newspaper has full blown pages showing selected Malaysian citizens being interviewed which also did state their political party choice. The issue about political parties going out to woo voters to vote for them made this so-called secret thing redundant. When people asked me, I do tell them.

If you think it was a secret in the last few elections, just note that your ballot paper has an electoral number linked to the stub being held by the election officials (you didn't know???). In simple lay man words, they knew whom you were voting for all this while. Who needs to know? Those people that uses phantom voters of course.

But for this coming election, the Election Commission shall remove such electoral numbering.

My 2 cents (using all my cents before they are untradeable in March 2008).
Tags: 12th General Election, Election, Malaysia, Phantom Voters, Election Day, Nomination Day, Election Commission, Malaysian Election