IN almost all surveys carried out recently touching on voters’ concerns, the uppermost issue has been the cost of living and the price of goods.
It cuts across all races nationwide.
Yet, Malaysians have not heard many politicians weighing in on this major worry.
The average Malaysian voter needs to feed their family and pay multiple bills – tell us what you are going to do for us.
Our wages have not increased, inflation has gone up, and the ringgit has depreciated sharply.
The effects of the global economic recession will be felt even more next year, as the International Monetary Fund has warned.
But politicians seem to prefer to score rhetorical points at gatherings. One long-time politician pathetically called his opponents “LBGT, communists and bribe givers.”
Perhaps, the economy is not an attention-grabbing topic, but politicians should be reminded that this is 2022 and Malaysians are better informed.
Several politicians still prefer to infuse some form of “political entertainment,” including comic relief, to keep the audience tuned in and win emotional responses to lock in their votes.
Nothing wrong with that, but do address the issues at hand.
The Merdeka Centre, in its findings among 1,209 respondents across 222 parliamentary constituencies, put economic concerns including inflation as occupying most of the mind of 74% of interviewees.
They cited political instability, corruption, enhancing economic growth, and welfare protection under the category of economic concerns.
The Ilham Centre found a similar pattern with 1,622 respondents – 44% wanted an economic recovery, 35% preferred the authorities to reduce poverty and the cost of living, and 8% to clean up corruption.
Persatuan Penyelidik Negara and 02 Malaysia also put the increasing cost of living as the top topic from its 1,105 respondents, which also included wages, employment, currency, and the national debt.
Among Chinese respondents, cost of living and price of goods grabbed the attention of 78.63% of respondents, in a survey carried out by Huayan Policy Institute and Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies.
The various manifestos issued by political parties, especially those by the three main coalitions – Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional – will be given greater scrutiny this time.
Previously, voters may have taken these heavily worded documents lightly, but not anymore.
Malaysians will hold them responsible because holy books, regardless of the faith, are sacred.
Surely, we will not forget the infamous quote by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that a manifesto is not a holy book that needs to be adhered to.
In describing Pakatan’s manifesto, he reportedly said in 2018 that the manifesto was “not a Bible” and was only a guide.
Barisan has unveiled its manifesto, which looks like a lengthy extension of the recent Budget with more financial allocations spelt out in detail.
Perikatan has taken out full-page advertisements with a summary of its “12 pillars, 30 approaches and 234 offers” to build a competitive economy.
The question now is what happens if two or three of these coalitions need to form a unity government together? How is the government going to pay for these promises?
Will we see common ground or priorities that these government partners can decide on?
But politicians do not think like us. No one is looking at any commitment beyond the two weeks of campaigning. It’s fight first, talk later.
As Malaysia heads towards a tough 2023, an inconclusive GE15 results looks to be a real possibility, with party heads now all saying that they are keeping options open.
But let’s hope our politicians learn from their American counterparts, where 75% of voters think that the United States is in a recession as the cost of living becoming overwhelming.
A CNN survey says that while US President Joe Biden is talking of “saving democracy” and restoring “the soul of our nation,” voters are more concerned about their finances.
In short, Biden and his Democrats are out of touch with the common folk’s daily struggles, and are now facing stiff punishment from voters, who may next turn to the Republicans.
Issues like climate change only received 6% of interest, gun policy at 7%, and abortion at 15% despite huge media coverage.
What comes to mind is the famous phrase coined by James Carville, an American political consultant and strategist for US president Bill Clinton, in 1992 – “The economy, stupid.”
Talk is cheap. Malaysians are interested in candidates who can fix the economy.
