Both sides agree poor communication, economic management cost Pakatan dear

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 6 years ago · Published on 15 May 2020 2:59PM · 5 Comments

PKR’s Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad says it was a challenge for Pakatan Harapan to fulfil its manifesto as some of its ministers did not believe in it. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, May 15, 2020.

POOR communication and management of the economy led to Pakatan Harapan’s downfall, said panellists on both sides of the political divide.

“Although, PH had some successes such as institutional reform and lowering the voting age and automatic voter registration, it had also failed to sign several conventions promised in its manifesto such as the Rome Statute where the wrong strategies were used,” said Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad at an IDEAS webinar today.

The Setiawangsa MP said it was a challenge for PH to fulfil its manifesto as some ministers did not believe in it.

“We gave the wrong impression that the manifesto was not doable and this played into the opposition’s hands.”

He said they also did not resolve some economic issues.

“When the economy is not good, people will blame poor wealth distribution and foreigners. This was something the opposition exploited,” he added.

Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan said PH’s popularity took a huge dive when it failed to manage the economy well.

“When it came to the economy, people looked at the manifesto promises of PTPTN (waiver), minimum wage, job creation and toll concessions. 

“But the finance minister kept playing up the RM1 trillion debt and this deterred FDI (foreign direct investment) and domestic investments. It gave a bad picture of Malaysia,” said Shahril.

The Finance Ministry was headed by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Shahril and Nik Nazmi were speaking on the webinar entitled “21 months of Pakatan government”. The session was moderated by IDEAS’ Aira Azhari.

Nik Nazmi said it was unfair to blame Lim alone while ignoring the roles of the economic affairs and the local government and housing ministers, Mohamed Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamarudin, respectively

The latter two have since quit PKR to join Bersatu. They both have a minister’s portfoilio in the Perikatan Nasional government.

“Those were liabilities to PH as they are now with PN. They will have to bear it as it had a bearing on us.” said Nik Nazmi.

PKR and Umno leaders also agreed that PH had failed in communication.

“During PH’s short rule, the corruption perception index and media freedom barometer had improved drastically.

“It’s easy to be the opposition and find fault but it was hard for the government to convey what it was doing. One reason could be due to the lack of experience and poor communications,” said Nik Nazmi.

The PKR leader said PH had trouble communicating effectively with Malay and rural voters from the start.

“We had the same problem with non-Malay voters and DAP was trapped in the middle where both sets of voters felt PH wasn’t doing enough. Malays saw DAP as the bogeymen,” said Nik Nazmi.

Shahril said PH had failed to engage the stakeholders in the Rome Statute and ICERD issues.

“These are difficult issues in a multi-racial and multi-religious Malaysia; even in the best circumstances it is hard. But PH only engaged some NGOs and not the conservative ones,” he said.

Ratification of the ICERD and the Rome Statute was in the purview of the Foreign Ministry led by Saifuddin Abdullah. The Communications and Multimedia Ministry was headed by DAP’s Gobind Singh.

Saifuddin is now the communications and multimedia minister in the PN government. – May 15, 2020. 

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Comments

  • Surprisingly theres no comment from out DAP die hard fans

    Posted 6 years ago by Ty Tiko · Reply

  • With good communication, even bad things will appear good to the public

    Posted 6 years ago by Zabidi Hussin · Reply

  • All would have gone well if not because of kacau bilau from PAS and UMNO on racial and religious issues. PH was unfortunate to have to adjust focus from time to time.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • There were no failures per se as I see it. Only that there were intense and coordinated resistance by BN and PAS to any PH initiative. So many a time, PH had to retreat. Bringing change after 60 years of BN rule where the system and institutions are handicapped will not be easy. It's like trying to discipline or teach a stubborn precocious kid. You just keep trying.

    Each time Tun decide to retreat, it's branded as a "U-turn" by the opposition. The problem is even the PH component parties operatives criticize such actions and believe PH or specifically Tun is abandoning the manifesto. Tun is perhaps partly to blame as he is often blunt and to the point. For instance, saying the manifesto is non-binding and many of the promises cannot be fulfilled. Well, he is speaking the truth and everyone knows it but it is nevertheless great political fodder for the opposition to use it against PH. Even PKR and DAP operatives use it to run down Tun in their effort to push Tun out for Anwar to be PM8.

    The Malays are the majority and to see thru all the manifesto promises would involve assuaging the Malays concerns and more importantly, their mindset. Tun failed in his 1st 22 year as PM. You expect PH to achieve it is 2 years??

    The PH Govt would have survived for the full term if not for the traitors of the Sheraton move. For sure , 60% to 70% of the manifesto would have gotten done or at least initiated by the time GE 15 comes around. The more difficult and sensitive manifesto agenda can then be pursued if PH get a second term after GE15.

    Posted 6 years ago by Super Duper · Reply

  • When Bersatu has plan to abort PH right from beginning, PH can only fail bcos there are insider traders. Bersatu under Dr M has planned to fail the shinning star minister like Yeo Bee Yin and Theresa Kok. Dr M conflicted Yeo's decision to close Nylas and confronted India to bring down the palm oil export has put his 2 better performing ministers in bad shape in the eyes of public. Dr M has never disagree Her+at to pull out until today, it was part if his plan also. PH must discard Dr M if they want to reshape a progressive and prosperous nation.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply