CONTRARY to Barisan Nasional’s warnings, all hell has not broken loose, the country has not gone bankrupt, businesses and tourists have not fled en masse, nor has there been major riots and chaos in Malaysia, one year after Pakatan Harapan swept to power.
By contradicting some of their own electoral promises and skirting around previously championed issues, PH has pretty much maintained many of BN’s policies – a China-friendly foreign policy, cash handouts to the poor, major infrastructure projects like the Pan Borneo highway and MRT2.
Some steps do demonstrate stronger political will than the previous government – the enforcement of a smoking ban in eateries, introduction of EPF for housewives, the willingness to tackle child marriage and alleged enforced disappearances, introducing a sugar tax and appointing women and minorities to important government positions.
Other measures bought some goodwill from the people, like abolishing GST and stabilising fuel prices.
Yet, despite proving detractors and analysts wrong and staying in power, even gaining a few defections in the process, PH failed to recapture the lost imagination of the fence-sitters.
One year on, the administration still seems overly dependent on Dr Mahathir Mohamad to make the big decisions and announcements – on ECRL, on tolls, on matriculation, on replying to the Johor palace.
While Dr Mahathir’s unique stature and position allows him far greater latitude to speak freely and touch on topics that would otherwise be sensitive, treading the tricky minefield that is Malaysian politics is a skill that should have been picked up by the rest of the cabinet and senior members of the present administration by now. Picking up and championing key issues would help bolster their credentials as leaders in control of the government which in turn, commands the respect of the people.
As a government with another four years of mandate, PH should not overly worry about the political narrative but focus on the economy. Repairing the economy without getting tangled in exchanges with the opposition would help convince supporters that they made the right choice in voting PH, and win over fence-sitters and those doubtful of PH’s ability to govern.
Financial problems is the common denominator bind people – rising cost of goods, inflation, increasing local food production. Some, like palm oil exports and petrol prices have been looked into, but more can and should be done.
With less to worry about financially, the public would be more open to new social and political narratives instead of stubbornly holding on to familiar positions, entrenching themselves deeper in it, when faced with what they perceive as an unsure future.
With expose after expose, and multiple trials with many personalities on the 1MDB scandal, the administration can rest assured the spotlight won’t shift from the wrongdoing of the past regime soon. What is needed is an equally compelling direction and vision, to counterbalance the toxicity of past scandals, with a clear strategy to achieve it, giving Malaysians something to look forward to, other than mere payback.
Quick wins should be played up, along with how close we are in filling the holes left by previous scandals. The return of recovered monies by the US State Department, is one such success.
As BN learns to work without resources, so should Pakatan learn to use the new resources at its disposal not to coerce support or badmouth the opposition, but highlight their position, promote their policies and counter negative perceptions that could have been a result of misinformation or media spinning.
Four years is not a very long time, but if used properly, it is sufficient to turn this country around in a direction the government believes is right, and to sell the idea to the public.
Learning from the past mistakes, the new government should realise that all the rhetoric and propaganda in the world would not work, unless the people feel the positive effects from these policies.
Happy First Anniversary, Malaysia Baru, and may the promise of change you brought fully realise and make Malaysia great again! – May 9, 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.
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Comments
Posted 7 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply
So, please pray on with thankfulness and be patient as the country enters a new era of good governance and integrity ; a lot more work needs to be done and everyone must give them full support so that they will succeed again in GE 15, and so that the robbers, thieves and kleptocrats will never rule this nation ever again.
May this beautiful country be the cleanest and most God-fearing nation in South East Asia, Asia and even the world.
Do not be pessimistic, but be glad and positive as we celebrate one year and look forward to better years ahead!
The country thank our beloved Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir and his great team for all that he and his team has done.
Never mind if the thieves and crooks do not like you. We know for certain that God and the good people of Malaysia love you Tun and that is why God has given you long life to save the nation and its people from doom.
We were close to becoming an Asian Venezuela, but God sent you back to stop Malaysia from a tragic collapse.
Thank you, Tun and Pakatan Harapan for giving all of us Malaysians HOPE again.
We remember and celebrate May 9th, as a life changing historic moment for Malaysia.
Malaysian Chinese born in 1951
9.5.2019
Posted 7 years ago by Kim Hock Sng · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by KC Yip · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by Justin Leno · Reply