It is exciting times for us, Malaysians. Today is the day we cast our vote. After weeks of scanning the special sections in newspapers on "Elections 2004", looking at little buntings streaming on the streets, weighing up promises made, insinuations thrown and working out acronyms, how have you made up your mind?

This is an important period for all of us to play an active role in our country's management. This must sound like a cliché by now - but every vote does count. Where you decide to place your little "X" makes a real difference in how life is going to be like in this country for at least, the next five years. It signifies who we, as citizens of this country, believe is sharing our concerns and needs, and whom we believe will act according to the principles of justice and morality that we have jointly agreed upon.

Politically structured as a democracy, we have a meaningful opportunity to voice our choice of where and whom to place our confidence and powers as the rakyat in. It is also a possibility for change. Today, we can decide where the powers to administer civic structures of our lives is to be vested. This a huge responsibility, and one that cannot be treated lightly or apathetically.

Before making our way to the voting centres, we might want to go through a quick contemplative reflection.

Who are the relevant candidates nominated? Perhaps we have come across them before through reading their press statements on current issues, or they maybe have officiated some of the events that we have been to. Consider what they have said and the stand they made: do they seem principally sound? In example, did they rely on sexist anecdotes to warm the crowd or make a point? There have been several newspaper articles which regretfully have done so in their reports following up to today. For instance, a news report in a national daily jocularly referred to a father offering his two daughters (for marriage) to a polling clerk as one of the job's "fringe benefits"; while another referred to parental cross-dressing to assert his point of political disillusionment. Although it may seem inconsequential to the "bigger picture" of the news story, it signifies the writer's attitude towards gender relations, and as such, can make their opinions suspect.

Similarly, if one of the candidates have made dubious statements about issues related to women's rights (such as women's greater participation in universities framed as a "problem"), then rationally, their ability to accurately represent our concerns about gender-related issues becomes compromised. If on the other hand, they have articulated their positions about issues that concern you in a manner that you deem acceptable, then remember them when you are crossing that important box.

The focus should not be on the political party's logo that has been imprinted on our minds during the nomination process, or from the hearsays picked up in our journey to political maturity. It should more importantly be on the individual candidate and what they are saying since they will be the ones carrying out the political duties. If there is a candidate that is deeply sexist, then no matter what the party line is on issues related to women, hers/his interpretation will be analysed and implemented through that skewed lense.

This column stresses on women's rights not only because it is a gender-related space, but also due to the fact that women are characteristically side-lined in the arena of politics. The division of social space into private and public often presumes the location of women (and young people) in the former sphere that is related to housework and other domestic matters; while privileging men on the more powerful latter that is related to things like legislations, national policies and the bajet. As such, it becomes all the more important that women's access to equal political participation is assured, and commitment in addressing our concerns is demonstrated.

Although it is estimated that more than 50% of voters are women, this powerful majority voice is suppressed when it comes to making deliberations that affect our civic life. It's not hard to see that something has gone awry when nearly 90% of our political representatives are men. No matter what your thoughts are, this cannot a random phenomenon. If there are no structural or ideological obstacles, the distribution would be much closer to 50/50. In fact, if you can remember the YBs who have intimated that women are "just not interested/qualified/ suited" in politics, think twice before you decide to mark that "X" next to his/her name.

Check out the result of WoMEC's eight-point survey sent out to election candidates on issues that women's rights groups have found to be urgent. Find out where the relevant candidates stand on issues of police powers, gender equality, participatory democracy, quality basic living standards, transparency and accountability of public authorities and laws that repress our social rights. Then, let's go and exercise our right to vote!

Jaclyn Kee
21 March 2004

Fortnightly Column by WAO on Sunday Mail