ELECTORAL REPERCUSSIONS OF INFRASTRUCTURAL DEFICIENCY: ANALYSING THE WATER SUPPLY CRISIS AND VOTER BEHAVIOUR IN MALAYSIA’S 14TH GENERAL ELECTION

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which the water supply crisis influenced shifts in political support during Malaysia’s 14th General Election (GE14). Grounded in empirical analysis, the study proposes a Theory of Water Induced Political Realignment, positing that failures in basic welfare provision, particularly prolonged disruptions in water supply, can act as significant catalyst for changes in voter behaviour, especially when the state is perceived as ineffective in resolving the issue. The findings indicate that the water crisis was a salient determinant in the electoral fortunes of competing parties during GE14. Voters residing in constituencies affected by chronic water shortages were more inclined to transfer their support to opposition parties perceived as offering credible and pragmatic solutions. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how infrastructural governance intersects with democratic accountability, offering critical insights for electoral strategy and public service delivery in Malaysia and other democratising contexts.

Keywords: Water Supply Crisis, Voter Behaviour, Electoral Accountability, Infrastructure and Politics, Malaysia’s 14th General Election