Zaitun Kassim

THERE are 20 symbols approved for use by independent candidates by the Election Commission (EC) but they're all in black and white, and not very imaginative either.

Perhaps the only perceived advantage to these symbols for the independent candidate is their simplicity.

With the exception of the tiger head, they are all pictures of everyday items that can easily be found.

"They have been developed by the commission and approved for use since the very beginning," says EC secretary Datuk Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor.
They were chosen because "they are not associated with (the symbols of) any other party, and they are everyday things that the rakyat (citizens) can associate with and remember".

The more commonly used ones, he adds, are the aeroplane, a bunch of keys, wau (traditional kite), shoe, bus and tractor.

An independent candidate can only choose from this list.

If two independents are vying for the same seat and have chosen the same symbol, then they will have to draw lots to determine who gets it, says Kamaruzaman.

To the uninitiated voter, however, an independent candidate using a fish as a symbol of his candidacy may do more harm than good for his campaign.

"Using a fish to represent his candidacy? I'd think he was joking or perhaps he's standing for the rights of fishermen?" says a prospective voter who wasn't aware that an independent can only choose from the EC's list of approved symbols.

Zaitun Kassim, who ran as an independent candidate under an opposition banner in Selayang in 1999, has recently announced that she would be doing the same this election because of her contention with the symbols for the independents.

Her campaign manager, Maria Chin Abdullah, tells the New Sunday Times that the 20 symbols are "simply archaic" and that they pose a disadvantage to the independent candidate.

"In other countries, a candidate gets to determine what his or her symbol will be. It shouldn't be pre-determined by the EC," she says.

Maria also contends that the time between nomination day and polling is simply not sufficient for Zaitun, more fondly known as Toni, to print, advertise and get voters acquainted with her symbol.

The importance of a symbol to a candidate cannot be under-estimated or overlooked because it helps not only to signify what he or she stands for, but also to differentiate him or her from other contenders.

It also plays an important role of identifying the candidate if a voter can't remember his or her name or if other contenders have seemingly similar names in spelling or pronunciation.

That's why the ballot paper also carries the symbol of each candidate.

So why not introduce newer and more modern symbols for independent candidates?

"It's a good suggestion and we'll take that into consideration. But for this election, it's too late (to introduce any) because it must be gazetted as stipulated in the Election Regulations (1981)," says Kamaruzaman.

Hasn't it been considered at all these past years?

"I don't know. It depends on the commission because the commission makes the policy; we are only the secretariat which implements those policies.

"If we are told to throw all these and make new symbols, then we'll come up with new ones immediately."

If a candidate doesn't want to choose from this list of outdated symbols, he can always opt to stand on another party's ticket and use the party's registered symbol.

As of today, there are 30 party symbols registered with the EC.

The more commonly seen ones are of course the weighing scale of the Barisan Nasional coalition, the full moon of Parti Islam Se Malaysia (Pas), and the red rocket of the Democratic Action Party (DAP).

The component parties of BN also have their symbols registered with the EC - like Umno, Gerakan, MCA, MIC and the People's Progressive Party (PPP).

The symbols of the three major component parties - Umno, MCA and MIC - were not registered with the EC until recently.

They are the original members of the Alliance, which dates back to pre-Independence days and their symbol back then was a sailing boat.

To register a party symbol with the EC, the party or society must first be registered with the Registrar of Societies, together with the party symbol or logo.

"Only then can they register their symbols with us."