KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 — The #UndiRosak campaign for young voters to spoil their ballot papers has become one of the most discussed topic in Malaysia’s social media sphere, with several activists even planning a forum on the issue tomorrow.
Although indubitably picking up steam after Pakatan Harapan (PH) formally named 92-year-old Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its choice for prime minister, activists have said the reason behind the boycott call went beyond that — to “teach” the Opposition pact a lesson.
Speaking to Malay Mail’s sister publication ProjekMMO, political activist Edy Noor Reduan accused PH of going against its principles by choosing Dr Mahathir, a former Umno prime minister, to lead the coalition into the 14th General Elections.
“For that, I support the campaign because there aren’t any other alternatives now as there is only Datuk Seri Najib Razak or Dr Mahathir… what other choice do we have?” he said, referring to Umno’s current prime minister.
Edy claimed that Dr Mahathir was responsible for “ruining the democratic system of the country” during the latter’s time. The Kedahan was prime minister from 1981 to 2003, the longest anyone has held the post to date.
“Spoiling votes is a fresh idea to teach all political parties [a lesson],” the propaganda director of civil society Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia said.
“If the percentage [of spoilt votes] increases, it would be a signal to show the reflection of their deeds.
Social activist Benz Ali said the campaign must be made a success to send a message to PH to not neglect voters’ sentiment again.
“So we want to punish PH to be mindful of the power of the public,” he said.
Besides #UndiRosak or #SpoiltVote, anti-election campaigners have also started other hashtags such as #ProtesPRU and #GEProtest to debate the same issue on the social media.
Those behind the hashtags were mostly trying persuade unhappy voters to stay out of the polls or cast spoilt votes in protest over the apparent lack of choice.
Malay Mail’s report last year that several young voters will be sitting out of the coming election because of the new leadership within PH and the lack of a proper alternative to Barisan Nasional had sparked off the initial debate over boycotting the polls.
Dr Mahathir has dismissed the campaign. According to news reports, he claimed the push to be the “doings of several Umno members”.
Former Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Ab Rashid Ab Rahman, who is now a member of Dr Mahathir’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, was also reported to have described the campaign as organised by those who are “shallow-minded”.
