HERE ARE THE FACTS WHY WE CANNOT GIVE BN 2/3 MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT
1. Barisan lost 2/3 majority once, in 1969. Only briefly and UMNO went berserk.
2. Since 1957, it has amended the constitution 690 times to propagate its power. By comparison, USA which is more than 200 years old has only amended its constitution 27 times; Singapore as little as only 4 times.
3. Barisan's ability to amend the constitution as it likes (and makes unjust and unfair constitutional changes) must be stopped now.
Here are the statistics from the 2004 election:
a) UMNO received 35.9% of the popular votes but has 110 parliamentary seats or 50% of all parliamentary seats.
b) in total, Barisan received 63.8% of the popular vote but has 199 parliamentary seats or 91% of all parliamentary seats.
c) the opposition received 36.2% of the popular vote but has only 20 parliamentary seats or 9% of all parliamentary seats.
d) why? Because of gerrymandering, or unfair election rules. The election rules are stacked against the opposition. No matter what happens, the opposition will never, I repeat, will never be able to win the next election.
Here's the decision-making power process within our present cabinet.
a) UMNO not only controls parliament via Barisan, it has allocated itself 24 cabinet positions or 71% of all cabinet positions.
b) MCA has 5 cabinet positions or 15% of the cabinet positions.
c) MIC has 1 cabinet position or 3 % of the cabinet positions.
d) Gerakan has 1 cabinet position or 3% of the cabinet positions.
e) other component parties hold 3 cabinet positions or 8% of the cabinet positions.
f) the opposition with 36.2% of all the popular votes is not given a single cabinet position.
One should take note that although UMNO controls 50% of all parliamentary seats, it controls 71% of all the decision making processes within the cabinet.
4. Many marginalization issues or unfair election practices are the result of legislations passed by Barisan (lead by UMNO) unchecked in a dominant Barisan parliament. Under the Barisan Party whip system, the majority component party within Barisan will dictate the rules of the game. Other Barisan component parties like MCA, Gerakan or MIC cannot vote against what UMNO decides in whatever it likes, even if they wanted to.
5. Worst part is this: even if the opposition won all the seats it contested, no single opposition party can form the next government.
Why? Gerrymandering (of the present election borders) has ensured that even if Barisan were to win 50% of the popular votes in the upcoming election, it will still control 2/3 of parliament. As an example, in 2004 Barisan took 64% of the popular votes but ended up controlling 91% of parliament. It is easy to see why if they win only 50% of the popular vote in the next election they will once again be able to dictate absolute power in parliament.
2. Since 1957, it has amended the constitution 690 times to propagate its power. By comparison, USA which is more than 200 years old has only amended its constitution 27 times; Singapore as little as only 4 times.
3. Barisan's ability to amend the constitution as it likes (and makes unjust and unfair constitutional changes) must be stopped now.
Here are the statistics from the 2004 election:
a) UMNO received 35.9% of the popular votes but has 110 parliamentary seats or 50% of all parliamentary seats.
b) in total, Barisan received 63.8% of the popular vote but has 199 parliamentary seats or 91% of all parliamentary seats.
c) the opposition received 36.2% of the popular vote but has only 20 parliamentary seats or 9% of all parliamentary seats.
d) why? Because of gerrymandering, or unfair election rules. The election rules are stacked against the opposition. No matter what happens, the opposition will never, I repeat, will never be able to win the next election.
Here's the decision-making power process within our present cabinet.
a) UMNO not only controls parliament via Barisan, it has allocated itself 24 cabinet positions or 71% of all cabinet positions.
b) MCA has 5 cabinet positions or 15% of the cabinet positions.
c) MIC has 1 cabinet position or 3 % of the cabinet positions.
d) Gerakan has 1 cabinet position or 3% of the cabinet positions.
e) other component parties hold 3 cabinet positions or 8% of the cabinet positions.
f) the opposition with 36.2% of all the popular votes is not given a single cabinet position.
One should take note that although UMNO controls 50% of all parliamentary seats, it controls 71% of all the decision making processes within the cabinet.
4. Many marginalization issues or unfair election practices are the result of legislations passed by Barisan (lead by UMNO) unchecked in a dominant Barisan parliament. Under the Barisan Party whip system, the majority component party within Barisan will dictate the rules of the game. Other Barisan component parties like MCA, Gerakan or MIC cannot vote against what UMNO decides in whatever it likes, even if they wanted to.
5. Worst part is this: even if the opposition won all the seats it contested, no single opposition party can form the next government.
Why? Gerrymandering (of the present election borders) has ensured that even if Barisan were to win 50% of the popular votes in the upcoming election, it will still control 2/3 of parliament. As an example, in 2004 Barisan took 64% of the popular votes but ended up controlling 91% of parliament. It is easy to see why if they win only 50% of the popular vote in the next election they will once again be able to dictate absolute power in parliament.
