#undirosak Campaign Serves No Purpose
Ali Imran Mohd Noordin
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama)
The #undirosak campaign that first appeared a fortnight ago calling Malaysians to intentionally spoil their votes in the upcoming 14th General Election (GE14) has certainly jolted the country´s political landscape.
The campaign, surprisingly, witnessed good following yet it is still not clear who started it or who are those behind it, what is their modus operandi and who are the financial backers of the campaign. Even the followers are in the dark on those behind the campaign.
So far, all that is known is that the campaign is being promoted covertly through social media postings, explaining why spoiling the vote is the best option in exercising one´s democratic rights.
It certainly raised the eyebrows of many. Even Pakatan Harapan´s (PH) Chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad raised his concern over the campaign fearing it could affect the outcome of GE14.
Dr Mahathir, who is also the chairman of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), a component of PH, accused Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) for the mischevious #undirosak campaign, only to be hit back with sarcasm and wit of the campaign´s ardent followers.
MANIFESTATION OF DISSATISFACTION OVER DR M AND PH
Looking back, the #undirosak Hastag started gaining momentum after Dr Mahathir was nominated as PH´s candidate for the prime minister´s post on Jan 7.
The campaign activists, working without any setup, reached out to the masses using social media accounts of individuals. Their propaganda to entice the society to spoil their votes during GE14 is the voice of dissatisfied individuals and not of the political parties.
Bernama managed to get in touch with one of the #undirosak activists, Muhamad Harris Nasril, 36, who pointed out the organically driven campaign was to create awareness on the public and not meant to pursue political interests.
However, it must be noted that many of the #undirosak supporters come from PH component parties and other opposition parties outside the opposition alliance.
The question here is why the opposition supporters and sympathisers resort to something that could only erode PH´s chances of capturing Putrajaya?
IT IS NOT ABOUT ANTI ELECTIONS
As the days passed, the campaign had caught the attention of the youngsters and the fence sitters who still could not decide between BN´s Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak and PH´s Tun Dr Mahathir to lead the country after the election.
Hence, in principle the campaign is not about voting for BN or PH. In a nutshell, the followers of this campaign don´t want to vote for both parties. Hence, their spoilt vote should be viewed as a protest vote.
For Muhamad Harris, the #undirosak campaign encourages the citizens to exercise their rights in expressing their protest through the "right channel ". He feels spoiling the votes is also the right of the citizen in a democratic system.
Moreover, spoiling the votes is not an offence in the electoral process unlike calling people to boycott the election.
TEACHING THEM A LESSON
"We resorted to this due to our disappointment with the PH leadership. All this while PH´s political struggle encompassed all races yet all that changed with the entry of PPBM which is openly a race based party, " he explained.
He admitted that Tun Dr Mahathir as the opposition´s choice was the straw that broke the camel´s back, and the one that unleashed the campaign. Muhamad Harris lamented that the inconsistent stand taken by PH on several issues including on Dr Mahathir´s nomination raised questions on the leadership of the Alliance.
"Their so called top to bottom´ decision to nominate Tun Mahathir was decided by those on top without taking into consideration the voice of hardcore supporters on the ground, especially those from the reformasi movement era that began in 1998, " he pointed out.
Muhamad Harris also took to task the populist politics of PH, like the ones in Selangor, that went against the party´s own election manifesto.
"The big guys in PH have no respect for the small voice and now the small voice has risen and turned into a big voice that they could fear, " he said.
A STEP BACKWARDS
Meanwhile, one of the supporters of #undirosak, Amir Hamzah Akal Ali, 29, noted that the decision to nominate Tun Dr Mahathir for the prime minister´s post was a step in regression.
Better known through his moniker Benz Ali, he lamented on the leadership largely represented by the elderly. He felt that the old leaders had robbed the younger leaders of their chances to hold important positions, like the prime minister or deputy prime minister´s post.
"Tun is 92. After he leaves, they have decided Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as his replacement. Anwar too is old. This looks more like a political dynasty.
"Why the young blood not given a chance. Why not propose Nurul Izzah for the prime minister´s post though it may be a drastic idea. It will be a bold decision to put forth a young candidate, moreover a women as the prime minister, " elaborated Benz Ali.
Benz Ali too is not concerned of BN winning again as the party has been in power all the while though there may have been some issue and shortcomings. Why not give another five years for the alliance, and this will give time for PH to reflect on their actions on the run up to GE14.
"If PH can learn from its mistakes, maybe they could see the light at the end of the tunnel in GE15, " he said.
ONLY A SMALL VOICE
The youngsters today find the #undirosak campaign as one of the ways to make people aware that they still have an option other than BN or PH. The campaign also serves as a reminder to all political parties that they have to show true commitment and work hard to win over the voters.
He reminded both sides of the political divide that the society today were more matured in making their choice at the ballot box. However, it is unfortunate that PH has resorted to opportunistic actions to grab power through the ballot box and this has brought reaction from its own followers.
"Don´t forget we are only a small group of people. Though we only spoke with a small voice we never expected it to create anxiety to the extent it drew comments from Tun Dr Mahathir, " said Benz Ali with a grin.
DON´T WASTE YOUR VOTE
However, does #undirosak campaign serve any practical purpose? For many, it is a ridiculous idea. How are we to bring the desired change or remedy in a country that practices democracy by spoiling the vote.
Election Commission (EC) Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah when contacted by Bernama said EC has been aware of the campaign through media reports and social media postings.
The society has to be aware that voting is the democratic right prescribed by the constitution and this right has to be used wisely to decide on the country´s future and the future of the generations to come.
"Though the #undirosak campaign is not against the law, there is nothing to achieve from it too. Vote wisely, don´t waste your ballot just to show your protest over the never ending political tirade or anything else.
"If you don´t vote or spoil your votes, it means you have left the others to decide on your fate, and the fate of your family and the nation, " said Mohd Hashim.
SPR is serious in seeing the people exercising their democratic right through the ballot box and hence will be going all out to create greater awareness through the 'Jom Kita Mengundi' (Come Vote) campaign, the opposite of #undirosak. --BERNAMA
