Abandoning the Incumbency Principle: A Call to Action for Barisan Nasional
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC deputy president M Saravanan has called on Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders to abandon the incumbency principle when selecting candidates for the next general election. Saravanan believes that MIC disagrees with the formula that automatically allows incumbents to contest the same seats at elections.
A Case Study: Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands had traditionally been an MIC seat, won by then-MIC vice-president C Sivaraj in 2018 with a 597-vote majority. However, his victory was nullified after the Election Court ruled that there had been vote-buying on the BN side during the general election campaign. Orang Asli leaders testified that BN gave a total of RM2,100 to six of their leaders a few days before polling day, including RM200 as pocket money. In the January 2019 by-election, BN fielded Umno candidate Ramli Nor instead of Sivaraj, and Ramli won the seat, becoming the first Orang Asli to be elected an MP. Ramli successfully defended the seat in the 2022 general election with a 4,544-vote majority.
The Current Formula: A Barrier to Entry
Saravanan also expressed his concerns about the current formula used by BN to select candidates. "Before the six state elections in August last year, BN deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan asked me which seats MIC wanted to contest. I was excited and submitted the list of seats we were interested in. Meetings were held daily, but nothing came of it. In the end, we were only allocated one seat," he said.
A Shift from Tradition
In the past, division chiefs from the party would automatically be selected as election candidates. "But with the current formula, you’ll never become a candidate," said Saravanan. This has led to a sense of frustration among party members, who feel that their voices are not being heard.
Conclusion
As the general election approaches, it is crucial for BN to re-evaluate its approach to candidate selection. By abandoning the incumbency principle and adopting a more inclusive approach, the party can attract a wider range of candidates and increase its chances of success. As Saravanan’s experiences in Cameron Highlands demonstrate, sometimes it is necessary to take a risk and make changes to achieve better outcomes.
FAQs
Q: What is the incumbency principle?
A: The incumbency principle is a formula used by BN to select candidates, where incumbents are automatically allowed to contest the same seats at elections.
Q: Why does MIC disagree with the incumbency principle?
A: MIC believes that the formula is too restrictive and does not give other party members a fair chance to contest.
Q: What is the significance of Cameron Highlands in this context?
A: Cameron Highlands was a seat traditionally held by MIC, but BN’s decision to field an Umno candidate instead of an MIC candidate in the by-election and general election demonstrates the limitations of the incumbency principle.