On 20th October 2024, SEDAR Institute organised a closed-door training seminar on “Understanding Democratic Institutions: Insights for Political Leaders”, presented by Dr. Lau Zhe Wei, an Assistant Professor for Political Science from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The seminar was joined by political leaders from Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia and aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of democratic institutions and their pivotal role in shaping effective governance. It also covered essential frameworks that support the nation’s political and administrative structures.
The seminar has a tight-knit audience of approximately 20 party senior officials, including the president, YB Senator Datuk Dr. Dominic Lau Hoe Chai. The main discussion of the seminar explores the foundations of the democratic system in Malaysia, the parliamentary chapters, and the electoral systems. Dr. Lau noted that a significant portion of the electorate remains unrepresented under the FPTP system, as parties can win a majority of seats by obtaining the plurality of votes in the seat, bringing forth questions and discussions on the need for electoral reform among the participants.
The participants concurred on the need for significant electoral reforms and argued that the current system stifles political diversity by creating a winner-takes-all environment that discourages small parties and independent candidates from competing on equal footing with the larger, more established parties. Building on the discussion, Dr. Lau Zhe Wei shared his studies of various electoral models enforced in other democracies, seeking a solution that could better represent the diverse political landscape of Malaysia. Among the systems that are being mentioned are proportional representation (PR) and Alternative Vote (AV) which would promote fairness, reduce wasted votes, and provide a more accurate reflection of the electorate’s true preferences, helping to heal the divisions within the Malaysian political landscape and restore faith in the democratic system.
In addition, Dr. Lau also discussed unique situations between government transitions, such as the case of GE-16 between the Ismail Sabri Cabinet to the Anwar Ibrahim Cabinet. The transition necessitated a mini-budget that covered only operational expenditures to ensure the continuity of public services before a proper, full-fledged budget could be passed.
The seminar ended with Questions and Answers (Q&A) sessions followed by a photography session for all the participants.
