Presidential election: Put in special effort to get non-Malays to vote

Although the coming presidential election has been reserved for Malays, the elected president must reach out to all.

We can see non-Malays questioning why they should take part in the election since the candidates will be Malay.

Voting may be compulsory, but it does not mean people will turn up to vote.

A low participation rate among non-Malays will not reflect well on the election result.

The Government must take extra effort to explain and mobilise the non-Malays to participate in the election.

In the event that only one candidate stands for election, it is important to dispel the perception that the president is appointed and not elected.

The election is beyond debate. We must strive to create a successful outcome.

Ang Miah Boon

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 07, 2017, with the headline Presidential election: Put in special effort to get non-Malays to vote. Subscribe