Will I SELL my Vote for Money, promises? Will I vote out of FEAR because of worry that the government may 'target' me for voting Opposition - scholarship for kids, university places, right to get low cost houses, ...
Who should I VOTE for? What should I consider when choosing for a candidate to represent me and the people in my area?
In Malaysia, we have the RIGHT to vote a peoples' representative (someone to REPRESENT me) in Parliament - MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
And, a PEOPLES' REPRESENTATIVE to the State Legislative Assembly (the State 'Parliament')
BUT STILL NO RIGHT to vote for the People's Representative in My LOCAL GOVERNMENT (the Local Council/Town/District Counsel)
And still NO RIGHT to choose SENATORS...
NEXT - Understand the PRIMARY roles of these different types of Peoples Representative
MPs - they mainly represent me/us at the Federal Government level - on laws that should be enacted/amended, on Federal issues primarily the responsibility of Federal Ministries/Departments, On who should be the Prime Minister or continue to be the PM... Their concern include Federal Roads, Tols, Education, Healthcare, Environment, Federal BUDGET, etc >
ADUNs(State Legislative Assemblypersons) - the represent me/us at the State Level - on State laws that ought to be enacted/repealed, on State issues the responsibility of State governments, departments, LAND, State ROADS and facilities, who should be the State Premier or Chief Minister - including Forests, Rivers, etc.. FLOODS too [Sadly, Federal Territories do not have a State peoples' rep - so all this also duties also fall on their respective MPs)
Local Government(Local Council) representatives - they are the MOST important for this government decides on matters directly affecting local communities - ALL Roads(excluding State and Federal Roads) that is in your Taman and towns, drainage, parks, etc. The local government decides on which business operates in its areas, conditions for operations, parking rates, development plans, Cukai/tax/rates paid for business, industrial and residential premises - very rich TOO because every year people pay rates for houses, business/commercial premises - and that monies is to ensure all roads in the Local Council area are well maintained, all drains are maintained, etc.. [Sadly, without people elected reps - in most places people do not even know who their area peoples' rep is, and they seem to be not doing their work as peoples' reps - because people do not elect and chose these reps, but the respective State governments appoint them - 'political appointees')
SADLY, many MPs and ADUNs end up doing the work that was supposed to be done by this Local Government peoples' reps - whilst failing to do their work as MPs or ADUNs.
PEOPLES' REPS for Parliament, State and Local Government - they need not have a good education qualification - but just need to be GOOD people who will represent the interest of the people of their respective Constituencies...
They DECIDE on the laws and policies - and, so they do need HELP from people who can study intended laws or laws that ought to be repealed - that is WHY MPs and ADUNs need STAFF/EMPLOYEES with this needed skills to help them become the better MPs/ADUNs - but still the LAW do not provide for paid staff for MPs/ADUNs which may include those with legal literacy and know how...{That is WHY MPs/ADUNs should be provisions in law for the employment such persons needed to assist MP/ADUN {contractual public officers, whose term ends when said MP no more MP] - so that they can better carry out their duties. Alternatively, they can seek out 'FREE' help from people, and many people will HELP - but sadly some MPs/ADUNs has got an 'EGO Problem' - they pretend they know even though they do not - hence they do not seek help to understand issues from others...
The people need BRAVE persons to be their Peoples' Representatives - persons brave enough to have a different opinion from their party leaders - and BRAVE enough to be able to express it (SADLY, many MPs/ADUNs are just too afraid to express a different opinion - they are just too afraid to get into the 'bad books' of their party leaders > thus willing to stay SILENT or even 'support' views/opinions that they personally feel is WRONG or against the best interest of the people. WE DO NOT WANT THIS KIND OF MPs/ADUNs...
In Malaysian elections, we vote for the CANDIDATE - not the Party or the Party leaders, ...
SO, WHAT FACTORS SHOULD I CONSIDER WHEN I VOTE?
1 - Persons with GUTS who are even brave to express an opinion different from their own party, party leaders or even government of the day - people who will FIGHT to do the right thing for the people, the State or the Country [Sadly, today we have too few of this kind of peoples' representatives - most appear to be just 'totally loyal' to the Party or its leaders - hence, they choose to actively suppress their own different views and also FAIL to truly represent the people or their views}. Will the candidate have the GUTS to Highlight corruptions or crimes of Anwar Ibrahim or his/her party leaders? OR will he/she a person who will still support criminals after the courts found them guilty -
2 - ETHNICITY AND RELIGION - many believe that they should vote for the candidates who are from their own ethnic group, religion or locality - but, it has been shown that people, irrespective of religion/ethnicity can be GOOD people or BAD people. So best choose GOOD people, irrespective of religion/ethnicity rather than BAD people.
3 - Sadly in Malaysia, many MPs and/or ADUNs are just 'TOO SILENT' - Remember, it is not just in Parliament or the State Legislative Assembly where you can speak up (noting that the opportunity there is very limited - it depends on the Speaker whether you get a chance to speak, there is still too little opportunities to ask questions or make comments, etc ) - but any MP or ADUN has so many other ways to EXPRESS THEIR opinion/stance/opportunity - they can write it in their Blog/Website, they can issue Media Statements, they can communicate their views through Constituency newsletters, through meet the people sessions in their constituencies - there are so many ways to express their views... 'We just do not want MPs/ADUNs who just express views of their party or party leaders, but suppress their own views and views of the people they represent) - so, we need MPs or ADUNs that will BRAVELY SPEAK UP - if their personal views are different from their party, just say so... We had Nazri Aziz - and today we have Hassan Karim who had often expressed a different view from Anwar Ibrahim and/or the Madani government. We need peoples' representatives with that kind of courage - to SPEAK UP even if it may risk expulsion from party, or a party decision not to place him as a candidate in the next GE>
Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz has expressed personal views against the death penalty, stating that taking a life is wrong and the government should not do it, even for serious crimes like murder. - He stated clearly then it was his PERSONAL view - not the view or position of the Government and/or Cabinet
## Therefore, if an incumbent MP or ADUN is again contesting, do a Google Search and see if that person ever expressed a personal of peoples' view, that may be different from his own party or government view.
4 - We do not need SANTA CLAUSE like MPs or ADUNs - all they do is turn up for weddings/funerals give 'gifts', smile and do hand-shakes. They turn up at flood centres and hospitals to visit victims - BUT they never speak out, HIGHLIGHT government wrongs or even make suggestions of what the government should do or should not do. They do not even publicly take a position on death in custody, Petronas Gas Pipeline incident, the case of ERA FM employees belittling Hindu religious practices, on Trump's visit to Malaysia, on the Palestine-Gaza issue, on anything - some MPs/ADUNs at the end of the day are just 'seat warmers' from what we see - they turn up and vote 'as instructed by party or party Whips' - we wonder whether they even know the issue they are voting for or whether theirs is a vote that is consistent with their OWN or the their constituents' view...
5 - Many Malaysians feel that it is USELESS going to raise an issue on Parliamentary or State matters with some of our current MP or ADUN - they may listen, assure us that they will act on it - but then we see 'nothing' but may get their say that they raised it with the government or the Ministry - But NO PROOF - so do we believe them or not. Anwar Ibrahim, at a meeting at the Malaysian Bar said that he strongly objected to Mahathir(and/or the Government) that ISA should not be used during Operasi Lallang(1987) and the crackdown on Darul Arqam - but there is no record of this, and can we believe such assertions.
# Lee Lam Thye, a former Bukit Bintang MP, was famous for his type writer - as soon as someone brings an issue, he immediately ACTs - writting a letter to the relevant Ministry/Department/Government and also giving a copy of the correspondence to the complainant. Many were happy for this 'minimal action' of their peoples' representative - at least he did something - Do MPs/ADUNs today even do this? Or do they listen and give the impression that they will do something BUT....
In 2018, the Malaysian people angered by the corruption and wrongdoings of the BN regime acted - against the Barisan Nasional - they voted against the BN - and end result, the BN who in GE13 won ___ seats, only won 79 seats in GE14. The anger of the Malaysian people did not end there, but continued in GE16, where the number of BN seats decreased even further from ___ to just 30 seats in GE15.
They also expressed a similar anger to Pakatan Harapan who won 113 seats in GE15, but only won 81 seats in GE16. Why? Was it because it was the failure to bring the promised REFORM in time - people expect speedy actions NOT delays or procrastination...
Come next elections - will the people continue to express their anger on BN - will BN number of seats further reduce?
Will Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan Harapan government also similar anger and disappointment of the people - anger about the backtracking on the expected REFORMASI, anger about its 'NEW' relationship with BN including the making of 'court clusters' like Zahid Hamidi the DPM? Anwar sadly talks about being 'anti-corruption' but some see him as ...
Do I still VOTE for candidates who have been silent about the alleged corruption of party leaders? Even after allegations of corruption and abuse of power, some party members still VOTE in the same people as party leaders - should I then support such candidates from such parties? Of course, allegations are not PROOF of Guilt and the Presumption of Innocence until proven guilty in court applies ...
BUT, now in Malaysia once again - there seems to be some 'PROTECTION' being given to some of those facing allegations, raising questions like..
Are the police, MACC and law enforcement being professional in their job - are they really investigating as should be and prosecuting these suspects - or can they be influenced by others to just not really investigate - resulting in NFA(no further action), or delaying charging alleging the need for more time.
Even, those where the Prosecution succeeded in overcoming the most difficult hurdle, that is proving a 'Prima Facie' case - which means that the accussed will be convicted unless he/she can raise a REASONABLE DOUBT which is quite difficult ...because even when the prosecution submits their evidence, the accussed has a right to cross examine and raise 'reasonable doubt' about the evidence - or even totally destroy its credibility...In Zahid Hamidi's case, the Public Prosecutor decided to discontinue the case - and the accussed was DISCHARGED > it would have been better if all evidence even NEW findings of the prosecutor are brought to court - and then, it is the Court that decides on GUILT or the fact that the Prosecution has failed to prove Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt...Court DECIDES - not Government and not Public Prosecutor...
Many Malaysians believed that some politicians and Ministers are ABOVE THE LAW - they will not be properly investigated or even charged in court - ALL that changed after Pakatan Harapan came into power in 2018 --- when no more are politicians, Ministers or 'connected' individuals above the law.
Now, it is the Prime Minister that picks and choses who will be Public Prosecutor - and it is the Public Prosecutor who decides on who will be charged, tried or even have their criminal trial discontinued - TIME to change this, and the Prime Minister should no longer be involved in deciding who should be Public Prosecutor..
In Sabah, of late, allegations of crime of some politicians - but then many wonder why some were never charged, tried....?
SABAH ELECTIONS
A whistleblower revealed the possible crimes of several politicians - then none of the TOP politicians have yet to be charged (maybe they may be charged later). His entry to Sabah to attend the trial, where the whistle blower is to attend, has been blocked allegedly TWICE - allegation that was '...informed by immigration that there was a "restriction from the Chief Minister’s Office"...' It was reported that even Anwar Ibrahim allegedly failed to get him whistle-blower protection. 'However, his personal plea to Anwar to be granted whistleblower protection was turned down by the prime minister.'
So, now voters in Sabah must decide whether to vote for the implicated politicians, or even the current Chief Minister if the allegations are TRUE - or for any candidates from the relevant parties where these politicians are from - What not even a CALL for an INVESTIGATION to be conducted? Will the implicated politicians 'take a break' until investigations are complete - they can always contest in subsequent elections. If they still contest, and is later found GUILTY by Court - would it not affect the image of the party, and all other ADUNs from the said party?
ALLEGATIONS are made and pop up all the time - Is it TRUE or FALSE is a difficult choice to make. Remember, the PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN COURT - but the barring of the Whistleblowers entry to Sabah is a FACT - Why did Sabah Immigration do this?
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS THE INDIVIDUAL VOTER THAT DECIDES - IF YOU VOTE IN THE 'WRONG PEOPLE', THE PEOPLE OF SABAH SUFFERS - they may steal from the people of Sabah [How much did Malaysia lose because of 1MDB - RM50 Billion or was it more - even if the politicians did not take it themselves, they are still responsible to ensure that the Country/State does not lose monies], they may 'abuse their powers', they may --- YES- at the end of the day, it is the VOTER that suffers the bad choices they make at the Ballot Box..
As election looms, Sabah again bars entry to man who exposed scandal implicating Hajiji's government
It is the second time Albert Tei has been denied entry as he arrived to attend the court the following day.
The whistleblower at the centre of explosive graft revelations involving top Sabah ruling politicians was again barred from entering the state ahead of critical elections that allies of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim desperately need to win to ensure his government's continuity in Putrajaya.
Albert Tei, the businessman behind a series of shocking corruption revelations involving Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, was barred from entering Sabah yesterday as he arrived ahead of a criminal case mention at the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court today.
It was the second time Tei was stopped from entering Sabah, after he was barred on Sept 21 and informed by immigration that there was a "restriction from the Chief Minister’s Office".
"Is the Chief Minister worried or concerned about what my client may disclose in court?" asked his lawyer, Mahajoth Singh.
"How is my client expected to defend himself in court if he is physically prevented from entering the very state where the court sits?
"The repetition of this conduct today shows a pattern of abuse, not an error. It sends a message that the Chief Minister’s Office believes it is above the law," he said.
Mahajoth told MalaysiaNow that Tei was instructed to wait on the aircraft and later took the same flight back to Kuala Lumpur that evening.
He said a contempt application was being filed against those who prevented Tei from entering the state.
This comes as Hajiji's Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which has been at odds with state Umno leaders, faces the difficult task of winning the state election on Nov 25, where the corruption scandal exposed by Tei is set to loom large during campaigning.
GRS comprises eight political parties, including Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS), of which Hajiji, a former Bersatu leader, is the president.
The coalition, originally allied to Perikatan Nasional, last won the state election in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, after the 2022 general election, Hajiji announced that he was leaving Bersatu and shifted support to Anwar's Pakatan Harapan coalition government.
Tei first released a series of video recordings showing Sabah state assemblymen discussing bribes ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of ringgit.
Fearing for his safety, Tei then sought protection so that he could lodge a formal complaint with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
However, his personal plea to Anwar to be granted whistleblower protection was turned down by the prime minister.
The videos released by Tei have implicated more than a dozen state assemblymen, including Hajiji and his deputy Jeffrey Kitingan, as well as other senior state ministers.
After months of pressure on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to speed up investigations, two Sabah assemblymen were charged, although top politicians have been so far spared.
Tei himself was charged with the offence of receiving and giving bribes totalling RM350,000 in connection with mining permits.- Malaysia Now, 23/10/2025
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