EC score in global electoral index cause for alarm, warns think tank
PETALING JAYA: A think tank today warned that the country’s electoral process is in need of urgent reform, following a report on global electoral freedom which placed Malaysia at 125th out of 198 countries.
The 2018 World Electoral Freedom Index, produced by Madrid-based rights organisation Foundation for the Advancement of Liberty, measured four components: Political Development (PDI), Active Suffrage Freedom (ASFI), Passive Suffrage Freedom (PSFI) and Elector Empowerment (EEI).
Malaysia scored a total of 61.95 out of 100 points, placing it one spot above Indonesia and several rungs below Pakistan (94), the Philippines (103), Nigeria (104) and Gambia (123).
Ireland came out tops with 80.44 points, followed by Iceland and Switzerland which tied at 78.98.
At the bottom of the index were Thailand (13.84), Saudi Arabia (12.62) and Brunei (4.52).
The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) said Malaysia’s score on the index placed it in the “insufficient” category (60-65 points), which also included countries such as Libya (63.53) and Bangladesh (63.47).
Out of the four components, it said, Malaysia performed the best in PSFI, ranking 8th out of 198.
The PSFI measures the degree of freedom a country’s citizens enjoy to be candidates, form political parties and be voted and be elected by society.
However, in the EEI category, Malaysia ranked “an abysmal” 184th out of 198, it said.
The EEI measures the degree to which there is effectiveness of election, direct decision-making procedures by the electorate, political pluralism, real power of the representatives and capacity to oust them, and integrity of the political process.
IDEAS coordinator of democracy and governance Aira Azhari said Malaysia’s score and rank in the index, released on Jan 15, was disappointing.
“With the general election lurking around the corner, it would have been encouraging if we did better.
“This weak performance should send signals to both sides of the political divide that they need to commit to good and transparent governance, and in particular whoever forms the next government must commit to fixing the weaknesses in our electoral system.
“The low ranking in the EEI category is an indication that our participatory democracy is very weak. We must address this urgently.”
First published in Free Malaysia Today, on January 26, 2018.
