PUTRAJAYA could have been more easily forgiven, say, six months ago, if it had made clumsy statements at odds with its manifesto, the struggles of its component parties, or even conflicting statements, sometimes hours apart, between members of the same administration. 

Today, almost a year after the elections, it is harder to accept “adjustment period” as an excuse for a honeymoon-like attitude towards running a country.

It needs to get its act together. While individual party leaders should, of course, be allowed to speak out freely, it should not put the coalition on the defensive position for no good reason. In some matters, especially controversial and divisive ones, tact should be applied.

Rightly or wrongly, explicit or implied, Pakatan Harapan won the elections on a platform promising openness, more liberal and progressive agenda, and reform, on the back of a multiracial, multicultural, multi-religious, and predominantly urban and semi-urban crowd.

To engage with PAS and Umno on a rural, semi-rural, conservative crowd would be ill-advised, as not only will it prove hard for Pakatan to take on parties who have campaigned on this platform much longer, much better than them, they could also risk losing newly won-over electors and Pakatan’s present vote base.

In some matters, where no urgent need exists to make a stand, or when making a stand only encourages divisiveness and further deepens the issues we face, keeping quiet could prove the wiser option.

For example, LGBT-related topics. It is an open secret that we have many, many gay Malaysians. They aren’t demanding special or even equal rights, nor do they want to host a Mardi Gras in the middle of Kuala Lumpur, so why is it so difficult to just let them exist, without having to make them an issue every couple of months, important enough to be discussed at length in policy meetings and even in Parliament?

When Zakir Naik ceased to be an issue, why thrust him back into the spotlight with a visit and U-turn on position?

It isn’t an interfaith dialogue when one person is trying to convert a roomful of people whose counter-arguments to that preaching could be construed as an insult to Islam, and earn that questioner a jail term.

MP Johnny-come-lately crossovers should be given a crash course explaining that they are no longer in Umno and not required to sound conservative, angry and racially charged all the time.

Malaysia could do without such divisiveness.

At the same time, sticking to the manifesto and expectation of the multiracial, multicultural, multi-religious people is important. If things like toll abolishment and electricity tariff reduction take time, perhaps sticking to the commitment of integrity and checks-and-balances could be something all Pakatan parties agree on. The Public Accounts Committee chair position, for example, should remain with the opposition.

That is what “Malaysia Baru” is all about – or at least is implied to be.

Najib Razak was a huge factor in the ouster of the old government, but hardly the only one. The expectation for the new government goes beyond just cleaning up 1Malaysia Development Bhd, or there is a high chance of this government to be a one-time wonder.

Sending one positive signal one day for a certain demographic, only to backtrack, U-turn or re-adjust expectations the next, only serves to lower the credibility of the new government. It makes Pakatan, in fact, look worse than the previous government that they accused of the same.

When in doubt, stick to the manifesto, the common ground, or defer it for discussions at a more conducive time. 

The collective interests of the people and the common political interests of all Pakatan parties are more important than the popularity of any one person or party. – March 20, 2019.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.