The document discusses Malaysia's low voter turnout in GE13 elections, which was under 60% and the lowest among ASEAN neighbors. This lack of participation by eligible voters in the democratic process is seen as a crisis for Malaysian democracy. The document hypothesizes about what would happen if voting was mandatory and those who did not vote were defaulted to a fictional "I Don't Care Enough Party" - this party would become one of the largest, highlighting the size of the apathetic, non-voting segment of the population. This "silent majority" of around 7 million eligible non-voters is analyzed as a significant issue that undermines democracy in Malaysia.

1. PAGE 161 NEW STRAITS TIMES TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013
COMMENT
Malaysia's crisis of democracy
Justin Lilll
isa research
associate of
the Institute of
Strategic and
International
Studies Malaysia
Voters lining up to cast their ballots at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pandan
Perdana, Ampang, Selangor, on May 5. Bernama pic
tamination - by such a sizeable
portion of eligible voters is a crisis
of democracy by any standards.
Certainly there are other coun-
tries, either Asian or Western, rich
or poor, which have regressed in a
similar manner. But our Voting-
Age-Population (VAP) turnout of
less than 60 per cent - ratio of
those whQ voted to all eligible - is
, the lowest among our Asean neigh-
bours, according to International
Institute for Democracy and Elec-
toral Assistance (International
IDF;A).
And yet we boast of a historic
election when seven million,
which is also a record number, cast
invisible ballots on election day.
As Malaysia still struggles' to free
itself from its colonial past, race,
religion and class-based identity,
and moves towards a nation based
on shared values, it needs the en-
gagement from all Malaysians and
not just a passionate few to bring
the country forward. Getting our
hands dirty in the process is I)ec-
essary.
History describes all too well that
vice is not found in passionate and
sincere patriotism, but in the lack
of moderation which can only be
tempered with the engagement by
all quarters: the majority and mi-
norities, the urban and rural, the
have and have-nots, the zealous
and of course the spectators in the
process of building, or rebuilding a
nation.
In GE13, four out of ten eligible
voters have decided that democ-
racy is not worth the effort.
The study of economics is the
study of how rational human be-
ings - the extent of our under-
standing of rationality, actual or
perceived, is debatable - make
decisions.
A cast vote is a decision made; an
uncast vote is also a decision
made.
The lack of engagement in the
simplest form of democracy - rep-
resentation through elections -
though certainly not free from con-
fault as a result - this party is now
the real winner of GE13with a pop-
ular vote of seven million voters!
But this I-Don't-Care-Enough
Party is an oxymoron; they are
simply indifferent, interested but
not committed, silent or unwilling
to engage in the issues at hand. In
other words, apathy and specta-
torism is now the true Malaysian
ideology.
Although this hypothetical sce-
nario seems too far-fetched, it does
not change the fact that these sev-
en million strong are, unfortunate-
ly, the real majority of this election.
passed off as fence-sitters and al-
most oblivious to the political at-
mosphere. Delving deeper, however,
shows that it is no trivial matter.
The number of votes garnered by
both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan
are approximately five million vot-
ers each, sizeable by any account.
Consider, however, the size of this
silent majority.
In mid-2011, four million voters
that are eligible did not register. By
2012, these voters have grown to an
estimated five million, despite the
numerous countrywide registra-
tion campaigns held. However, a
'record breaking 2.2 million did reg-
ister, which is certainly
commendable.
But let us imagine that
voting was made com-
pulsory for all and that
our ballots were initially,
by default, crossed on a
hypothetical 1-Don't-
Care-Enough Party,
whereby turning up on
election day is the only
way to reselect our can-
didates of choice. The
no-show of these five
'million will, by default,
choose the I-Don't-Care-
Enough Party.
This party is now in the same
league as BN and Pakatan!
With the additional two million
who registered but did not turn up
on election day - also choosing the
I-Don't-Care-Enough Party by de-
'SILENT' MAJORITY: In
GE13, seven million
eligible voters
decided that
democracy is not
worth the effort
WITH the immediate
dust of the 13th
General Election
having settled, life
has r e-
sumed, for most, and
many have written exten-
sively and reflected crit-
ically on the significance
of this election.
There is no doubt that
this historic election has
captivated the hearts,
minds and the imagina-
tions of many for what
the future holds for us
Malaysians as individu-
als, communities and the
nation.
one issue that has es-
caped the attention of
most is the existence of a "silent"
+majority of the electorate. These
are eligible voters whom, although
eligible, did not register to vote.
On the surface, their inactivity
appears to be harmless, easily