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15th General Election – Will there be any change?
News:
On the 10th of October 2022, the Prime Minister of Malaysia announced the dissolution of the 14th Parliament to make way for the 15th General Election. This announcement puts an end to the rumours and speculations that had grown more intense since September. The King, Sultan Abdullah Ri’yatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah gave the consent on the dissolution of Parliament during an audience at the National Palace on the 9th of October. This dissolution stipulates that the general election must be carried out within 60 days. The day of election was finally announced to be on the 19th of November 2022.
Comment:
Finally, the long-awaited date has been announced. Malaysians will go out to vote in the 15th General Election (GE15) on the 19th of November 2022. Since the announcement of the GE15 date, the mainstream media has been busy carrying out their tasks to celebrate GE15 by airing various shows and providing platforms to dissect and debate opinions about the election and the country's political direction. All these activities are done as an effort to build and warm the atmosphere up while coaxing people to vote in order to ensure the success of the upcoming GE15.
There are those who expect that the 15th GE is an opportunity for the people of Malaysia to restore political stability and the national economy as well as reuniting Muslims. However, even before the GE15, we are already witnessing the greatest division in history amongst Muslims in Malaysia. This division is manifested by the fact that several new Malay Muslim political parties were established prior to the election. In addition, these parties will compete amongst themselves or band together based on some benefit. Some would argue that the division is due to some fundamental principles and for seeking justice, nevertheless it still manifest clear disunion amongst the Muslims. Consequently, Muslims will continue to squabble amongst themselves, the society will remain divided and the aspiration of achieving political stability will remain but a dream.
This is what the kuffar West desires - that Muslims continue to be divided and remain disunited, become weak and easily manipulated. This is happening right before our eyes. Muslims are not only divided globally, even within one's own country, we are not united. Islam obliges its people to unite not only in matters of belief, spirituality and virtue, but also in politics. This can only be achieved when all Muslims return to make Islam as the only foundation in their lives. However, when Islam is no longer the basis of life, human desire will take the place of Islam. When human desire takes the place of Islam in life and politics, when democratic entities replace the Islamic Khilafah and Islam as a way of life, as a Deen, is no longer implemented in its totality, we can only expect transgressions, misdeeds and destruction within the society. In the past general elections, politicians converge around benefit to advance their political agenda. Today in moving towards GE15, we are witnessing the exact same phenomena. There may be a few who are sincere and honest in serving the people, but these individuals are uncommon. And in a democratic system, their sincerity and honesty are easily swamped away by the flood of corruption and discrimination. So, would GE15 really bring about the change that the Malaysian public is expecting? Very doubtful.
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Dr. Mohammad – Malaysia