THE Pakatan Harapan (PH) government had its weaknesses but was not negligent and did not abuse power, said PKR duo Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

“There were many positive changes after Pakatan took over but there were concerns over the higher number of non-Malays in the cabinet,” said Anwar today during a Facebook live session on the second anniversary of the 14th general election that swept the opposition into power in 2018.

“We had weaknesses and at times made insensitive remarks. We should have pursued some of the welfare programmes more aggressively but there was no negligence in the PH administration,” said the PKR president.

Their weaknesses were, however, exploited by the opposition comprising Umno, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.

“We never put aside Malay issues such as rights, language and religion,” said Anwar.

Comparing PH to Perikatan Nasional, Anwar said if they had done the same things, they would have been crucified.

“If we had reopened alcohol breweries or gaming (after the movement-control order), we would have been crucified by the opposition.

“But because it is done by a coalition of all-Malay parties, it is accepted,” said Anwar.

Dr Wan Azizah, who was PKR president during GE14, admitted that PH had many ministers who were inexperienced in government.

“But this also meant that they did not know how to abuse their powers.

“We can overcome weaknesses in experience but it’s very hard to overcome the tendency to misuse one’s powers,” said the former deputy prime minister.

Recalling the time when PH defeated Barisan Nasional in the last general election, Dr Wan Azizah said it was a momentous struggle.

“We were surprised to win but we managed to create history and it was an honour to build a new government.

“I was very proud to become the first woman deputy prime minister,” said the Pandan MP.

During her two-year term, Dr Wan Azizah said she was very proud to have headed the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

“We managed to start i-Suri, where the first phase was to ensure housewives also received EPF (Employees Provident Fund) from their husbands and the government would give RM50. 

“And we started a toll-free hotline for domestic violence,” she said.

She added the other i-Suri phases are now on hold following the fall of the PH government on February 25. – May 9, 2020.