THE dwindling turnouts of the last three by-elections since GE14 can be interpreted in many ways. Generally, the outcome was positive for Pakatan Harapan, with relatively comfortable victories.

Beneath that however, more than half the voters in each area appear to be still undecided about what to make of the new political reality and power equation in Malaysia, or have lost their interest either due to a sense of victory, loss of hope, or even indifference.

Regardless of which interpretation you choose to believe, political parties will need to work harder to recapture the lost imagination of the Malaysian people.

The constant politicking since the general elections, that should have died down by now, appears to only be getting stronger.

Set against a backdrop of an empowered rakyat who either helped unseat the previous government, or was made to realise that they could be unseated, things will only be more difficult. This is made harder because the intense campaign on both sides have left both the campaigners and the population they were preaching to, lethargic.

The three untimely deaths in Selangor had inadvertently extended the election campaign four months into the new administration, and the PKR internal party elections helped fuel it, with mud being slung on an incremental basis. In the midst of it all, is a cabinet trying hard to execute the will of the rakyat who voted them in, while trying to rationalise their own over optimistic manifesto, while grappling with inexperience, a rebellious Public Services Department and high level politics that they are unaccustomed to, without the support system and teams that they had in place when in the Opposition.

The rakyat sees this and have cut the new government a lot of slack, just as the NGOs and political pressure groups exercised restraint in their criticism, appearing to give the new government some time to adjust and sort themselves out. But patience has its limits.

Expectations as high as people have for the new government will need to be managed. When the sense of euphoria of Malaysia Baru has ended, people will be left wondering why it isn’t what they thought it would be, simply because they have bundled all their hopes, dreams and expectations into it. Anything short of this perceived ideal would be considered a failure. The government should, therefore, at least outline, what we can expect in the New Malaysia – socially, economically, legally, and so on.

This could be done by the Information Ministry, so that the tone can be set for other ministries and agencies.

Key areas would be civil liberties, freedom of religion, dialogue and institutional and economic reforms – things often touted in forums and talks by Pakatan leaders – to be put down in a more formal and organised form.

Some things are not in Pakatan’s control, like deaths or market downturns, but others are.

The volume of politics and noise should be turned down, as too much sensationalism takes focus away from achieving what needs to be done to deliver. We have enough by-elections to deal with without the need to force another one, regardless of how amazing the candidate is. The government isn’t and shouldn’t be about one person. It does not make sense to want to save a ruling coalition… from itself?

People should be more concerned about delivering the New Malaysia to the people, instead of ensuring their political survival and relevance in it.

Likewise, the insubordination of anyone in any level of civil service should be dealt with strictly and swiftly. Having a different opinion is one thing, but refusal to obey express executive commands would create instability and hamper the government’s ability to function. It is the role and duty of civil servants to execute the will of the government of the day, and leave the judging of those policies to the rakyat, at the ballot box.

Pakatan has enough problems with things it cannot control, but it should have the political will to take action on things it can, bearing in mind that they will be marked for this at the next general elections. – September 12, 2018.

* 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.