MALAYSIANS need not despair, they still have a workable government even if MPs in the ruling coalition openly clash with each other over policies and promises.
The reality is the ruckus and rancour is part of democracy – something most of us are not used to since Malaya gained independence in 1957 and Malaysia came into being in 1963.
What we are used to are broken promises and empty deliveries. Hence the noise, hence the self-righteousness and the return to parochialism and communal issues for relevance in an ever-changing world.
Whether it is Pakatan Harapan (PH) or Barisan Nasional (BN) in power, one thing is necessary for a rather smooth if not peaceful country – the economy. Our worst times were always during recessions and souring economy which averages once every decade.
Malaysia is still going through that low trough now, just like most economies in the world.
Except we have always had this volatile mix of communities and for possibly the second time since 1974, a coalition that has come together despite antipathy and distrust for each other.
Let’s not pretend this is the government that most Malaysians wanted. A fair number of Malaysians voted to throw out BN in May 2018, with hope that Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his new-found allies could reverse Najib Razak’s profligate ways and uncover the extent of the 1MDB scandal.
That is a work in progress.
But until Dr Mahathir and his government can deliver the economic goods, the calls for him to step down or stand aside and outrage about every other “incident” will get traction. That goes for his ministers too.
The simple reason is he chose this cabinet, which has broken some promises while delivering little for the people.
For example, there is no third vote, there is a U-turn on Lynas, some civil rights pacts are left unsigned. But Malaysia has khat for primary school kids and a third national car, and possibly a flying car in the offing.
The thing is, some members of the ruling coalition now would have had a fit if these proposals were brought up by any other government of the day. After all, they represent the people who want promises fulfilled, not broken.
In other words, it is par for the course for Dr Mahathir and other PH leaders to be questioned and challenged by their own politicians. If they find the questions inconvenient, then perhaps they should consider their own positions in this government.
The government needs to deliver its promises more than breaking them. And that starts with the economy now while laying the ground for the future. – August 13, 2019.
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Comments
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Posted 6 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply
Come now, you know what Mahathir will tell you guys, right?
"Next time, I will ask Malaysian Insight for advise la...!"
Posted 6 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply