How To Win An Election

Posted by Natalie Shobana Ambrose
By: Natalie Shobana Ambrose
theSun, Malaysia (pg 12 )
March 22, 2013
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/columns/onpointe

If you didn't know the elections are near, you might want to move out from under that coconut shell. The streets are lined with flags and makeshift mini political party offices, even though Parliament has not been dissolved. Ang pow packets, free food, monetary gifts and the likes are being handed out almost daily.
If you own a cell phone, you most probably received a few text messages asking who your vote will go to, or which party will win. Not only did a local politician (whom I'm not acquainted with) send me a generic birthday greeting, I even received one for Mother's Day, though I don't qualify.
Short from feeling irked by my privacy being violated, maybe this is how our politicians think they can win an election.
Certainly these tactics bear resemblances to advice given in the ancient Roman letter "How to win an election" that Quintus Tullius Cicero wrote to his brother Marcus in 64BC who ran (and won) for the highest office in the Republic.
Quoting from the book jacket, Quintus's political wisdom included the importance of promising everything to everyone and reminding voters about the sexual scandals of opponents to being a chameleon, putting on a good show for the masses and flattering them shamelessly to manipulate your way into office.
All this sounds too close to home, making me feel very stage-managed in the lead-up to our elections. Of the 10 take-aways from the book, three stood out as lacking on our political platform, the first 1) Communication skills are key, the second 2) Surround yourself with the right people and the third 3) Give people hope.
Perhaps my take on these are not as sarcastic and raw as Quintus advice but I do agree with him that a poor communicator is still unlikely to win an election despite the new and varied forms of media available today.
Our politicians are not great orators. The lack of debates or the aftermath of a debate (when it does happen), always is cringe-worthy. When asked questions, our politicians go off tangent, don't answer the question and let their emotions get the better of them.
Their answers are reactionary to opposing views instead of visionary. Perhaps this worked before, but today, for me at least, I want answers that are tangible not just talk and pomp about draft proposals that don't see the light of day but real substantial methods how their policies and coming to power will actually benefit me, the individual and the country.
The second point reminds me of the marines' tag-line, "We are looking for a few good men". Quintus advice was to build a trustworthy talented staff saying "you can't be everywhere at once, so find those who will represent you as if they were trying to be elected themselves."
My personal thought is that this includes those in component parties and affiliations. Having politicians who go rogue inciting racism and religious intolerance does not help. You are only as good as the company you keep and pruning away such characters is necessary.
So when issues such as the Global Witness video proving deeply-rooted corruption practices in Sarawak surface, the people watch closely as to how fast the leaders condemn such practices and what the outcome will be. Keeping mum and selective justice do not sit well with voters even if they are not voting in Sarawak.
Giving hope is the third point that we could do with. Of course in this letter Quintus is very rough saying in making the most cynical voters his most devoted followers his brother needs to give them a sense that he can make their world better.
Admitting that Marcus will let them down after the elections and it won't matter because he would already have won. I would however like to see real hope with less disappointment, but for now, both sides have their weaknesses. At the end of the day, voters want improvement in their own lives first and we want someone we can put our hope in to make life better.
Someone who speaks the language of the people and not politicians who carelessly say RM40 is enough for a month's groceries while they dine in the finest restaurants, or those who tell Malaysians to save while they themselves sport the latest watch costing a year's wage for the middle class worker or even the politician that speaks about work-life balance when people struggle to make ends-meet, spending hours stuck in traffic while the politician whizzes past with a police escort.
Leaders need to realise that the best perception management strategy is to attack and resolve the issue.
The Roman Republic may have disappeared thousands of years ago, but Quintus's advice provides insight that can be of use not just to our politicians but also to you, the discerning voter.
Natalie would like to see the right candidates stand, and the most deserving win but more so the people have to come out the winners in the general election.