DO WE NEED A THIRD FORCE?

Malaysians have taken umbrage to the absence of 20 Pakatan Rakyat Parliamentarians at the third reading of the Dewan Rakyat recently where Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's first Budget almost did not get passed when it barely got through by a 66-63 vote margin. For the first time, the national budget was approved with such a narrow margin. In parliamentary democracies, a budget that is not passed is equivalent to a vote of no confidence on the government.

This means PR LOST the chance to topple the BN government because the 20 missing PR Parliamentarians could have made a big difference to the outcome of votes. Read more about it HERE and how Tian Chua admitted HERE that it had been a 'planned mission'. To me, it is nothing but a SHAMEFUL and POORLY EXECUTED mission.

All over cyberspace, netizens are demanding for the names of those missing MPs and an apology or rationale for their absence. MPs know the schedule of meetings and are expected to adjust their personal appointments to attend the Dewan Rakyat - a duty expected of all elected representatives. Read more outbursts from Malaysia Today readers at THIS LINK.

This incident shows up the lackadaisical attitude of MPs on both sides of the divide. In short, things do not really look promising at all. Many of us voted for change via the Opposition but there does not seem to be a difference between the two sides safe that one is rolling deep in the grime of alleged corruption and racism. Is it a mistake then to hope that PR can steer the country to the change that we so badly need? Have we all been wasting our time, effort and hopes on PR?

Perhaps the time has come for Malaysians to create a ‘third force’ in Malaysian politics. By definition, it is the political coalition that offers an alternative to two major political parties - in this case, BN and PR.

Instead of banking on a two-party system, we may need an independent political organization that can play a watchdog role on the BN and Opposition government by focusing on developing and advocating reformative and transformative policy proposals. It can actively educate, agitate, organize and lobby to achieve the rakyat's agenda in many ways.

This Third Force can also tip the scale for the power struggle in the two-party system by emerging as a force to be reckoned with. Besides, once there is a third party in the picture, perhaps then BN and PR will be more serious at getting their act together to overcome inherent weaknesses and to reinvent themselves more effectively.

Sim Kwang Yang also wrote about this, in particular about the Sabah scene, AT THIS LINK. Pak Sako also blogged about this topic AT THIS LINK.

For instance, if PR wins in the next polls, the Third Force can unite and work with PR to strengthen its position and to ensure deliverables reach the rakyat. In the event that PR fails to perform, then the Third Force can flex its muscles and ask the PR to shape up failing which it can join BN. In this way, there is an automatic check for any abuse to keep a check on politicians and the political scene could be a more dynamic one as politicians are more likely to be on their toes lest they lose out to the other side.

During elections, a third force would support important third party candidates who have been carefully selected to utilize the option to run independent candidates. A third force would not depend on electoral politics as the sole means of advancing its agenda and winning support.

It could employ non-electoral strategies and tactics such as forums, dialogues, mobilizing or organizing around issues at the local, state and national level as a means of broadening its base to bring about real change via change agents or layman at the grass root level.

The Third Force can also creatively use the Internet to disseminate information, galvanize action and raise much needed funds for its success. All this sounds a tad idealistic because I do not really see a pool of leaders that display the vision, skill and capacity to lead the rakyat.

Realistically, a genuine third force is unlikely to emerge in the near future but I believe the third force must be kept alive as an ideology, as a possible alternative so that all political parties will not be complacent about ground support. Perhaps there could rise amongst the rakyat or NGOs a group which can develop the ideology of the third force to mobilise support. If the political scene does not improve, the idea of a third force has to gain momentum to come into existence, especially in situations when the unity of the nation is jeopardised, the economy starts stagnating and justice, integrity, transparency continue to be jeopardized or if corruption assumes endemic proportions.

The writing is on the wall and warning bells seems to have sounded for Pakatan Rakyat. The leaders had better ensure that they live up to their manifesto even before it is made public. There cannot be any more room for mistakes for if the electorate are fed up, there could be a swing to BN in the next election and by then, we would be doomed. So PR leaders, please wake up!!! We are counting on you for that breath of life to resuscitate and rejuvenate Malaysia.

You had better not let us down! We elected you to the seat of government and we can also vote you out!!

MWS
16/12/09