Malaysians on both sides of the divide were quick to react to the dissolution of Parliament yesterday in order to make way for the 15th general election as announced by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The decision comes after months of pressure from Umno leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to dissolve Parliament and hold a snap election. However, it has raised concerns and garnered criticisms from the opposition, activists, and the public, as Malaysia is about to experience its annual monsoon season soon which displaced more than a hundred thousand people last year and left 54 dead.
On September 29, The Malaysian Meteorological Department warned that the country might experience widespread flash floods over the next two months.
Many of them on Facebook praised the prime minister for calling an election, some said it was important to give back the mandate to the people after three tumultuous years of political instability.
“Well done PM…”
“Well done. For the harmony of Malaysians”
“Good job.. give back the mandate to the people.”
“Alhamdullilah… finally parliament is dissolved… hoping you get a better mandate from the people”
Meanwhile, feelings of disappointment and anger were rife on Twitter. Many dubbed the government’s actions ‘selfish’ and said they were more eager to vote now to throw out the lawmakers who were in favour of the election.
“If the death toll and losses that were endured last year and this year did not stop Umno from dissolving parliament this year, I have no words for them”
“Dissolve parliament just to save two people. Calling for GE15 during flood season so that young people can’t return home to vote. But they forget, Allah SWT is there. Hopefully, he listens to our grievances. Hopefully, the country doesn’t flood so we can go back to vote”
“If the Perak river floods best believe I’ll swim to Sepang to cast my vote. Clearly, a government that announces an election in the middle of flood season is clearly a selfish and inhumane one.”
“Election will still be held even if it is during the flood season. Like it or not, we must still vote because it is our duty. If it doesn’t flood, alhamdulillah. If it does and some areas are heavily flooded then let the people’s representatives think”
Meanwhile, Firas Fisal, 20, who would be casting his vote for the first time in the upcoming election told Coconuts that he feels like there is a hidden agenda behind the sudden announcement especially when Budget 2023 was just announced.
“The timing is also questionable especially with the monsoon and flood season coming,” he said.
“Nonetheless, I will vote and the reason is that we are given the chance to select our candidate or government that represents our political beliefs and their methods of solution,” he said.
“Every vote counts, marginal victory is one of the perfect examples of why every vote matters,” he added.
Darren Arvid, 26, said he thinks the election announcement was made in a rush and that the country’s politics are in a mess, however, he said he would still go out to vote as it is his civil right to do so.
The second-time voter said he is currently researching the candidates as well as the general political climate in order for him to decide on which party and representative deserve his vote.
However, Darren also expressed his disappointment that an election is being held during the monsoon season and said the government should be preparing to face the floods instead of politicking.
“I can’t help but feel we are just wasting time and resources when all of it could go into helping flood victims and reducing the impact on them,” he said.
Since the 14th GE in 2018, Malaysia has struggled with political unrest when former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad led an opposition coalition to victory in elections over UMNO, which had ruled the nation through a stable coalition for more than 60 years.
Two governments have collapsed since then, including Mahathir’s. Ismail became Malaysia’s third prime minister in two years in August last year through negotiations instead of an election.
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