Transparency not the main criteria voters are looking for, say experts
LILYANA RIZAL11 Nov 2022 09:00am
From left: Azizuddin, Sivamurugan
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Professor Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said: “Nothing to hide is fine. Politicians with nothing to give will not win votes."
He was commenting on the move by PKR candidates to declare assets.
He also said that we cannot homogenise asset declaration as a macro-vote-winning strategy and the strategy could have a reverse effect.
“Many are now asking how Rafizi Ramli got that rich that quickly. He didn't declare who are the shareholders in his company and how many per cent each shareholder's stake is in the company,” he told Sinar Daily.
He also said that each parliamentary seat has local issues to be addressed and that the strategy for each candidate should be to know what exactly the troubling issues in their respective constituencies are.
“The voters have bigger issues to deal with and are concerned about. All parties’ manifestos put 'cost of living' as the number one priority to voters,” he said.
Another analyst, Professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said, “the reason candidates are doing this is to gain trust from the people because they would be considered clean from corruption.”
He said that one of the efforts to win votes is, in fact, declaring assets but it may not be accepted and welcomed by all.
“I think people will prioritise many other issues.
"For me, the declaration of assets is a good thing but there are many other issues that concern electorates and they will consider those issues more,” he said.
Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian agrees that voters want corrupt free candidates, uphold ethics and show that they are willing to serve the people.
"Not seasonal politicians but politicians who are there to make sure that they take care of the constituency.”
“Some voters are keener on policies such as cost of living, economy, integrity and issues related to well-being,” he explained.
“If they can show that they are moderate, they are not arrogant, they are friendly towards the people, I think they will win the hearts of the voters,” he says.
Politicians who have declared their assets say assets declaration was a way to ensure politicians were transparent with the public.
