Leaving constituencies unfilled weakens voter representation, says group
PETALING JAYA: The Election Commission (EC) decision not to hold by-elections for vacant seats should not be accepted as standard practice, said MyKuasa chief executive Praba Ganesan, adding that it risks undermining the fundamental democratic principle of voter representation.
MyKuasa is an NGO dedicated to promoting democratic participation, public accountability and government transparency.
Praba said the EC’s recent move in Perlis could set a worrying precedent for how late-term vacancies are handled.
He said while Malaysia has previously seen by-elections postponed or cancelled, legality should never be confused with democratic legitimacy.
He cited the EC’s 2020 decisions not to hold by-elections for the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat in Sabah and the Gerik parliamentary seat in Perak, both deferred under Covid-19 emergency laws.
“Not holding by-elections is not unusual. But that does not mean it is right.”
Praba said other democracies continued to uphold electoral representation even during emergencies.
“The US held its November 2020 elections for all offices despite being under Covid-19 emergency conditions. The principle of never denying voters their representation is central to democracy,” he told theSun.
He urged Malaysians not to passively accept decisions that leave constituencies unrepresented, regardless of legal or procedural justification.
“They should speak up for their democratic representation, regardless of how state or federal speakers, or even the EC, choose to interpret the situation.”
Praba was particularly critical of what he described as the politicisation of by-election decisions, saying voter interests were often sidelined in favour of political calculations.
“It is clear that decisions to hold or not hold by-elections have very little to do with what voters want or need, and far more to do with how the outcome might affect political parties.”
He said such moves eroded public trust in democratic institutions and reinforced perceptions that electoral processes were being manipulated for political convenience rather than to uphold voter rights.
“What we need are speakers and EC officials who understand their responsibility to democracy and act in good faith, instead of being drawn into political drama and coalition management.”
Commenting on Perlis specifically, he said the failure to hold by-elections deprives the state of an important opportunity to gauge public sentiment amid political uncertainty.
“Perlis would have had a much clearer barometer of how voters feel about the current menteri besar impasse if by-elections were held.”
Praba added that state assembly Speaker Rus’sele Eizan initially took the correct step by calling for by-elections, describing it as the most democratic option under the circumstances.
“When you are unsure, you ask the voters. That is the essence of democracy.”
However, he said the subsequent reversal suggested political bargaining had overtaken democratic considerations.
“Instead, backroom dealings and convenient arguments about coalition cohesion were allowed to override the voters’ right to resolve the political impasse themselves.”
He added that if such decisions became routine, Malaysians could increasingly find themselves without representation during critical political moments.
“This should not become a precedent. Democracy is strongest when voters are trusted to decide, not when their voices are delayed or denied for political comfort.”
