Commentary - What’s the real reason behind by-elections?

There is politics, and there is politicking over politics. Apparently, the latest example of this is the prospective Penanti by-election.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat is keen on a by-election, after its parliamentarian and former Penang deputy chief minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin resigned.

But there could be an emerging consensus in both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat that habitual by-elections is not the best way forward.

The country seems to be weighed down by a recent spate of by-elections.

Apart from the cost and effort, by-election fatigue could be building up among the electorate which cannot be good, not least for the democratic spirit of free choice exercised eagerly.

Besides, for the Penanti seat to be vacated by a PKR candidate suggests the favourite might be another PKR candidate.

When that happens and he wins, the PR spin would be that Barisan had indeed lost its edge for good.

That ploy is practically certain, given recent experience.

When the Batang Ai, Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau by-election results came in, PR’s 2-1 score over Barisan merely reflected the pre-by-election status quo, but pro-Opposition stalwarts insisted it was a nationwide move towards PR.

Then, even when they were held just three days before Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak ascended to the premiership, the results were interpreted as a vote against Barisan, indeed as a referendum against Najib.

Even if by-elections are necessarily a referendum on the federal government, which is doubtful, a space of just 72 hours is ludicrously short for appraising a new premier.

PKR may want to continue with its by-election mania, but its DAP and PAS stablemates may not agree.

Whether or not the majority of people in Penanti look forward to a by-election is also doubtful.

What is certain is that PKR should look inwards to see why some of its senior members have had to vacate their seats.

Whe­ther it is corruption, or simply investigations into such allegations, troubling question marks hover over the integrity of these individuals.

Perhaps the need to divert public attention is what drives the quest for by-elections.

What else would explain it, instead of spending limited resources on meeting the people’s needs?

- THE STAR