DURING Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign, he famously said: “The first 100 days is going to be important, but it’s probably going to be more like the first 1,000 days that makes a difference.”

As we are currently, on day 621 of Obama’s 1,000-day yardstick, I believe this is an apt time to present some of the recent policies that the Pakatan Harapan government has implemented for a better Malaysia.

Technological advancements

The government’s focus on developing our technological infrastructure to increase efficiency and living standards is evidence of proactive governance.

The Finance Ministry’s recent launch of the e-tunai initiative, which aims to progress Malaysia into a cashless and corruption-free society is an initiative that has clear benefits for the rakyat.

Firstly, the use of e-wallets increases our personal safety. Before payment, e-wallets require the customer to authorise payment through a password, fingerprint or facial recognition. This saves the hassle of consumers carrying cash with them and withdrawing money from an ATM.

While the preferred method of transaction in rural areas is still cash, by implementing and developing the e-wallet infrastructure now, PH is responsibly preparing for the future. As we all know, technology does take time to perfect.

Another exciting development is the implementation of 5G internet throughout Malaysia, which is expected to be rolled out by the third quarter of this year.

Spearheaded by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, the welcoming of 5G is a strong catalyst for our beloved Malaysia to once again become a competitive nation, not just within Asean and Asia, but perhaps globally.

A beneficial implication of 5G internet is the increased efficiency of our emergency services, where they can incorporate the use of 4K virtual reality drones to feed real-time data. This is vital in times of challenging global climate change, where, regrettably, forest fires and flooding have increased.

We should be encouraged by the fact that the emphasis on technological investment is bearing fruit and our efforts are being recognised globally. The 2019 Government Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index by Oxford Insights ranked Malaysia 22nd globally, placing us above countries such as Belgium, Estonia and South Korea. This index measures the preparedness of governments to use AI in the delivery of public services.

Democratisation

Aside from technological innovations, this decade looks towards the exciting implementation of PH’s Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, which looks to form closer ties between economic development and institutions.

An example of this is the democratisation of local councils by Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraidah Kamaruddin. This bottom-up approach will maximise the potential of sustainable development for local communities across the country, thus decentralising governance, which will enhance the efficiency of policies outlined in SPV 2030.

It is interesting to note, that when Malaysia was founded, we did indeed practice local council elections. However, this was suspended in 1964 due to Konfrontasi and later outlawed by the under the 1976 Local Government Act.

Through proactive governance and maximising efficiency, the PH government is leaps and bounds ahead of the autocratic and restrictive Barisan Nasional administration.

This is evident as PH is willing to cooperate with the voices of the rakyat and explore whether certain policies are feasible.

What started as a petition that garnered 39,000 signatures, PH is currently re-examining private sector maternity and paternity leave. Currently, new fathers are only provided with three days of paternity leave.

Clientelism and corruption

PH is a coalition that champions multiculturalism and advocates the principles of liberty and justice, tenets essential for the sustained prosperity and harmony of our beloved nation.

These principles enshrined by our forefathers, at a time when Malaysia’s founding was united by the exclamations of “Merdeka”, have progressively regressed during the tenure of the previous government.

The irresponsible Barisan Nasional government of the past instilled a culture of clientelism and corruption, which led to their leaders to impede the jurisdiction of the civil service.

This is evidenced by the revelations of auditor Nor Salwani where she verified that Najib abused his power as the finance minister and prime minister to amend the 1MDB report to be presented to the Public Accounts Committee.

In addition, Umno’s embezzlement of government resources has led to the nation’s wealth being virtually monopolised by those in power. This has led to ever-growing income and wealth inequality, meaning that PH is effectively undertaking a nation-building job in the 21st century.

Recent by-election performances

Yes, the past few months have been challenging times for the government, and this has been realised in recent by-elections.

However, I firmly believe that patience is indeed a virtue.

Reform takes time, and implementing policies responsibly means that we can mitigate any unforeseen shocks.

If we ought to formulate a constructive and holistic performance scorecard, shouldn’t we grant PH the 1,000 days that Barack Obama famously alluded to prove their worth and make a difference? – January 20, 2020.

* Aimran Sarhan Abdullah is political secretary to Tanjong Bunga assemblyman Zairil Khir Johari.

* 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.