PAKATAN Harapan’s popularity is at an all-time low and despite boasts that it would win the next elections, the poll numbers do not support the claim.

The latest survey by Emir Research shows that only 24% think the current government is viable. PH’s own think-tank Institut Darul Ehsan’s (IDE) predictions point in the same direction. Its findings also match those from independent think-tank Ilham Centre.

These findings match the by-election results this year. With the exception of Sandakan, PH lost all four by-elections in the peninsula.

And with four of those by-elections – Cameron Highlands, Semenyih, Rantau and Tg Piai – spread over three states across the year, they are as good as any survey.

PH’s milestones

In all fairness, PH has implemented many firsts in the country although most are done through reforms in Parliament.

For the first time in history, all MPs and their families are required to declare their assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Although, the requirement i in the form of a parliamentary motion, it speaks much about the transparency PH is trying to instil.

As of December 5, 62 opposition MPs – 36 Umno, 1 MCA, 1 MIC, 18 PAS, 3 GPS and 3 independents – have yet to declare their assets despite the motion being adopted in July.

PH also repealed the Anti-Fake News Act 2018, formed 11 select committees, pass a law to curb financial crimes and amended the federal constitution to allow 18-year-olds to vote and stand as candidates.

In 2019, PH also decriminalised street protests, lowered the age limit for youth activism in societies and raised the minimum wage in selected cities to RM1,200.

During the year, PH also tabled white papers on Felda and Defence Ministry and launched its Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.

Although PH failed to amend Article 1(2) of the constitution to restore the constitutional status of Sabah and Sarawak, the pact is expected to do it again in 2020.

And at the close of the last session, the government tabled a bill to limit the prime minister’s term to two.

On other matters, PH has legalised e-hailing drivers, begin enforcing the non-smoking regulation at eateries and mandated child safety seat in private vehicles. Though unpopular, it is hard to argue against policies that prioritise safety over convenience.

On the economic side, PH managed to keep prices in check with inflation rate below 1% (between January and November 2019). Inflation, however, is expected to come under pressure when the price of RON95 petrol is floated next year.

It also restarted large-scale projects, such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and Bandar Malaysia, to spur the economy dampened by global events.

Poor communication

So, how did it go so bad for PH in such a short time?

For one, communication issues continue to hamper the PH government. With the exception of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and some senior ministers, the rest of the cabinet hardly hold regular briefings with the media to communicate their policies.

More often than not, policies are announced or leaked, and the government is forced to retract or respond after public pressure.

Take the critical service incentive allowance, for instance. Putrajaya was forced to backpedal after public outcry and even then, the communication is unclear whether cabinet had endorsed the Public Service Department’s decision or not.

While the problem has been averted, PH lost points due to mishandling.

Another issue that has plagued PH since it was leaked out in July was the Jawi issue. It needed several weeks before the Education Ministry was able to finalise the unpopular policy, leaving parent-teacher associations to decide whether to teach the subject in vernacular schools.

Although the policy was mooted under the Barisan Nasional government, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik did not use his discretion to suspend it before consulting with all the stakeholders.

As such, the issue continues to burn today with the police stepping in to prevent a congress of Chinese educationists on the matter. And before that issue has abated, Maszlee has ignited another one by letting Rakan Siswa Yayasan Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim) to enter schools and institutions of higher education.

Another unpopular move that has weakened PH’s Chinese support was when the Ministry of Finance tried to force MCA to relinquish control of Tunku Abdul Rahman University College by withholding its allocations.

It, too, had to backpedal on this after public outcry.

The communication gaffes and incoherent policies aside, one of the issues that has continued to plague PH its manifesto promises. While it has implemented more than half, mostly related to governance issues, the ones that affect it most are the bread-and-butter issues and the confidence level in the cabinet.

So much so, Dr Mahathir even said he was mulling a cabinet reshuffle after PH’s defeat in Tg Piai. But about a week later, the prime minister changed his tune and said he was satisfied with his ministers, for now.

Sex scandals, infighting

The drop in PH’s popularity is not restricted to governance only as it has been a year that will be remembered for the infighting in PKR and the transition issue.

The issue surfaced when an aide to Deputy Primary Industries Minister Shamsul Iskandar, Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz, said in a Facebook video that he had sexual relations with Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Although, Azmin denied the allegations, they reopened the rift with PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, which dates back to the party elections in 2018.

The case, however, is still hanging in the air as police have not been able to identify the second man in the series of sex videos.

This led to more allegations against Anwar and the height of it was when Azmin’s faction staged a walkout at the PKR congress in Malacca last month.

While Azmin’s loyalists said the feud began with Anwar siding with vice-president Rafizi Ramli in the last party elections, the president’s followers said their fallout is due to suspicions that the deputy president is plotting against Anwar to succeed Dr Mahathir as the next prime minister.

Azmin is not helping matters as he quietly met BN lawmakers without explaining why or informing other PH leaders.

As a result, Dr Mahathir has had to deal with the question of whether he will pass the baton to Anwar throughout the year. The latest on this was when Dr Mahathir said that he would only leave after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting next November.

Overall, 2019 did not begin badly for PH as it even received a welcome boost in Parliament when 11 Umno MPs joined Bersatu.

But ineffective communications, poor handling of sensitive topics and infighting have overshadowed some of the good work done in Parliament.

Like the ICERD and Rome Statute issues in 2018, PH has not resolved the way it handles contentious issues.

And if can’t resolve the Jawi issue amicably in 2019, it will have a tougher time with the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) conundrum.

That could well be the story of 2020. – December 30, 2019.