Federalism, the two party system and political realities of Malaysia

On 21 November last year I invited the Institute for Policy Studies with YB Datuk Husam Musa and YB Teng Chang Khim in the forum discusses Two Party System and State-Federal Relations. Forum is part of the National Symposium on IKD Pakatan Rakyat and onset of Two Party System in Malaysia.

Capital touching about hypocrisy in the BN State Government and Federal relations, while Teng also propose that the principle of federalism with greater construed in accordance with current developments.

In my speech, I start with writing citing YM Tunku 'Abidin Muhriz: "Regional autonomy was practised for centuries present amongst the constituent states of Malaysia - the only formal federation in Southeast Asia - yet the country is among the most centrally administered in the region .

That is the irony, how the only formal Federation in the region has become increasingly terjerat with the Central Government control. I also reminded the audience how Umno itself against the proposed unitary concept of Britain through the Malayan Union, but suggest the formation of the Federation of Malaya in 1948.

In the history of our country, there is some violation of the principle of federalism episodes, including: the Federal Government intervention to overthrow Sarawak Chief Minister Stephen Kalong Ningkan the 1960s, the Emergency rule in Kelantan in 1977 that allows the Federal Government dropped the PAS, marginalization rights Sabah under PBS in early 1990s and the issue of oil royalty to Terengganu and Kelantan.

Since March 8, 2008, when 5 was the first time state government fell to the opposition we see how the hijacked Perak, Penang and further marginalized the latest issue of oil royalty Kelantan.

As part of the Singapore Government, through our own experience some of the same: People-Centric program jointly organized by the Prime Minister's Department, National Security Council, Department of Social Welfare and the Election Commission; barriers Datuk Noh Omar as Minister of Agriculture officials to all Federal agencies to attend programs in the State Government and Federal Government efforts to thwart Selangor water industry restructuring.

Same theme that underlies the incidents was clear: how the Federal Government led by one party (or coalition parties) rejected cooperation with the State Government led by the opponent and the structured use of the governmental machinery of these states, thus the people of their own!

In fact, since March 8 now see tension between state and center spread also in states such as the appointment of Menteri Besar BN in Perlis and Terengganu.

Clearly, the principle of federalism that underlies the formation of the Federation of Malaya and Malaysia has eroded further, swallowed deck period, revenue Constitutional amendments impact a large majority for the BN this.

Power and financial resources of the State Government extremely limited. Financial strength, the government machinery, security institutions - all under the control of the Federal Government. At the same time, I asserted that the State Governments need to Pakatan Rakyat in creative ways and not only give reasons to overcome this crisis.

Selangor State Government in its efforts mendrafkan Enactment of Freedom of Information for realizing the principles of transparency and accountability. Even so, during which the Chief Minister using his powers under Section 2C Official Secrets Act, the Federal Government tries to find a way menggagalkannya. Hill International in incidents, people must ask: how reports of landslides threaten the safety or affect the strategic interests of the country?

At the same time, efforts Petaling Jaya City Council to establish police assistance (Auxiliary police) to assist the Royal Malaysia Police guard in Petaling Jaya to this day do not get a green light of the Federal Government. Yes, safety is the responsibility of the Federal Government. But as a pro-active measures that have a PBT result of many crimes and handcuffed, MBPJ want to help the often lamented lack of RMP police officer. Airport, Port all have police assistance. Why people are denied the right to Petaling Jaya? In many other countries, is under the police power PBT!

To break this deadlock, we must find some way. Among produce spirit dwiparti (bipartisanship) between BN and PR, as exists in the parties in the BN which is also not satisfied with the bias condition today (can we ask YB Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh!). Availability YM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah led kaukus claim royalty oil is a good example, and need to be developed further.

We must also start the paradigm shift from the mentality of winner takes all (win or lose all) to the win-win (win-win). If we refer to our Constitution clearly exists between the equilibrium back the State and Federal Government. Proposal YAB Tan Sri Datuk Abdul Khalid Ibrahim Independent Grants Commission established to ensure justice for channeling funds to the State Government should be studied carefully. Imagine, people pay a tax of Selangor RM16 billion to the Federal Government. But the State Government budget cumalah RM1.3 billion. As a member of the Federation, we accept the need to fund the rich is shared selangor other states that require more, but if each state guaranteed a minimum 20 percent tax obtained daripanya, Selangor own allocation of RM3.2 billion will be entitled to!

Some countries succeeded with their federalism model, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany. Even countries that Indonesia is basically unitary republic, the power of the Central Government relaxes post-Reformation to the sleeping giant is now risen back to economic progress, political and social impressive.

In this case, Pakatan Rakyat must unite. Pressure against the Government-Pakatan Rakyat state government only if we can we face together. In this case, the Convention People's Alliance and the Conference Minister-Chief Minister and Chief Minister of Pakatan Rakyat should be used preferably for melakar policies and cooperation between states, but a manifesto at the national level.

Mention this matter I would like to review some critical views about the fairness of two party system in Malaysia. My friend, Wan Saiful Wan Jan is chairing one of the panel in the same symposium. In his column The Malaysian Insider, Wan Saiful felt two party system in the country would inflict long-term view of the system to kill competition and choice. He asked me the same thing when I held forums.

Haris Zalkapli Cebu Daily News also saw the difference in ideology in Pakatan Rakyat as a barrier system of the two parties, since the two party system requires a clear difference in the two ideologies.

History proves how the Umno-dominated BN for 50 years has been to erode Muafakat Constitution when independence was achieved first. Yes, there are elections, but elections are lame and the period between the election of the people do not feel the grace of democracy: media dikongkong, party line / vague government, fundamental rights violated.

Among the factors that enable the BN-Umno hegemony there is a plural society. Umno-BN only managed to get the support of the entire spectrum of society; PAS only able to reach a large majority support in the Malay in the North and the East Coast while DAP also won the support of the overwhelming majority of Chinese working class.

In that case, PAS and DAP can focus on voters respectively, won their group issues but failed melakar national agenda that can attract the support of all. Hence BN comfortable in power socket.

Justice is the introduction of various races to change this scenario. Added feeling is bad and racist sentiments against suffering economic policy in the BN-Umno General Election 2008 and create a unique situation where people of various races in the first time rejected the Umno-BN together. Previously only a people who oppose Umno-BN: 1986 Chinese, Malays and 1999.

Femonena involve unique voter Chinese, Indian and Malay town in 2008 is difficult to be repeated without an agreement to Pakatan Rakyat in the middle path and become a party political alliance that is united with the basic principles and policies with clear.

Hence registration and Convention People's Alliance in December teramatlah important. After the attack the media and the failure of our image shows more closely together, we can not let this opportunity.

With the view that open up more competition in the political arena will raise the level of politics we assume all political parties will compete on the field equal: the media a fair, equitable allocation of development and government officials who receive free and open to all parties.

However, without a clear cooperation, opponents will continue to BN brittle and split like the ancients. Is the situation for the opposition will grow well in these conditions?

This not mean that we want to be like Pakatan Rakyat Umno-BN, Umno which serves as the "eldest brother" and space for different opinions and criticize the leadership of extremely narrow. Such obsolete politically irrelevant.

The fact that no party in the Pakatan Rakyat racist elements to prevent "eldest brother". Pakatan Rakyat leaders must berlapang chest of differences of opinion and critical opinion. But the principle of collective responsibility is not only based on the British Westminster democracy take root even in the era of Islamic Manners congregation Messenger should be greeted. Differences exist between members of government and a representative of the people backbencher.

Anyone who follows political developments in the West know that even though each party based on the main principles agreed with the basic differences exist various views. Britain's Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to lead the Labor Party and accept the simple reality of the market, but still have the old socialist hard against these changes. Democrats have their own right wing and left.

In fact, every successful political movement based on the combined area involving various groups focused on common goals. Yes Pakatan Rakyat have the liberal, socialist and there are no Islamic group. But the issue of carrying the Constitution, the election free and fair, dynamic and prosperous economy, uphold human rights, I do not think we are all different. Experience we become victims of authoritarian rule of Umno-BN should teach us about the changes we want. In this case each political party must find the meeting point relevant to large groups of people of Malaysia.

In Islam itself, hatta among the Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamaah we have differences in matters furuk (branch) while the same basic iktikadnya. But we can also learn from this dynamism where kesepakatannya not 'forced' from above, but arise from a society that is born from Ijma scholar.

Thus mechanisms exist such as the one member one vote election (as has been made of Justice) and selection of candidates by the grassroots level (as a proposal for Umno Tengku Razaleigh and practiced in Britain) may be considered. With this system the two parties shall maintain the dynamism of a society and public opinion represents the plural.

Even so, I do not deny possible in the future we need to think about different situations. If we change the electoral system from first-past-the-post to a form of proportional representation is not possible we look at situations such as more flexible in Germany and Indonesia. But if people are not ready, this system may produce extreme groups in politics. We can improve existing systems to return to the original provisions of the Constitution which is the difference between the Parliament can not exceed 15 percent of each other. This provision was abolished in 1962 until the situation arises cacamerba today.

Hence, we must go back to basic things. At this time, saw the reality of Malaysian society, the two party system is a democracy we make progress. At least, two parties is better than the dominance of one party for this!

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad is Assembly Seri Setia, Selangor and also assuming Political Secretary to Selangor Menteri Besar and Exco Angkatan Muda Keadilan Malaysia. He writes in the blog www.niknazmi.com. This view is a personal opinion.