THERE are mixed feelings among civil society leaders about Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s leadership and the way his cabinet handled national issues as his tenure in office passed the one-year mark. 

While some said Ismail could have done a better job, others said there was a limit to what the Bera MP could do due to the country’s political scenario, which has been in limbo for the past few years.

The 62-year-old leader became the country’s ninth prime minister in August 2021, succeeding Muhyiddin Yassin, who lost the support of Umno lawmakers. 

Prior to his appointment, Ismail served as minister under the Perikatan Nasional government headed by Muhyiddin. 

Umno was part of Muhyiddin’s government together with PAS before the Malay nationalist party decided to turn its back against the latter. Temerloh-born Ismail was sworn in as prime minister with the support from MPs from Bersatu, PAS and Umno. 

Bersih chairman Thomas Fann said although Ismail lacked the people’s mandate to rule, he managed to bring some level of stability after he inked the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Transformation and Political Stability with Pakatan Harapan (PH). 

Under the MOU, a slew of reforms were proposed, with the top priority being an anti-party hopping law. The bills for the law have seen passage through the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara and are expected to come into force next month. 

Fann said Ismail has the potential to do much better if he pushes through with the reforms proposed by the earlier PH government.

He noted the MOU had provided the stability Ismail needed and some of the reforms the opposition proposed had made progress. 

“Ismail had promised more reforms such as the Political Financing Bill, MyGovernance and the separation of the public prosecutor from the Attorney-General’s Chambers. 

“If he delivers all these reforms before GE15, he will go down in history as the most ‘reformist’ PM in Malaysia, leaving behind a positive legacy for himself. 

“For the stability he has brought to the country through the MOU and the promises he has delivered, I would rate him C+, but he has the potential to do much better by fulfilling the remaining promises,” said Fann. 

The Association for the Protection of Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka) said in Ismail’s year in office, there has been some positive development in the forestry and environment sector, although nothing concrete has been observed. 

Peka president Damien Thanam Divean said it would be good if Ismail could push the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry and Environment and Water Ministry to greater heights. 

“One year is a very short time to rate a prime minister, especially in Malaysia. There has been development in the scope of forestry and environment but only at the policy level. Nothing concrete has been observed on the ground yet.” 

He said some of the examples were the amendments to the National Forestry Act 1984 in parliament by the energy and natural resources minister, and the upcoming amendments in parliament in October related to environmental protection by the environment and water minister.

“These amendments and upcoming proposals are very encouraging but it would be a great legacy for the prime minister if he could get both the ministers to make their home state of Kelantan, where they are MPs, an example for other states to follow,” he said. 

Do more to protect human rights 

Suara Rakyat Malaysia wants Ismail to do more in protecting and upholding human rights issues. 

Its executive director Sevan Doraisamy said the current spike in the number of deaths in custody as well as the way the Home Ministry handles human rights issues are worrying. 

“Take peaceful assembly as an example. Lately, the cops, if they need to take a statement from rally organisers or participants, they would call up 20 to 30 people. This has never happened before,” Sevan said. 

“In this digital age, the police need not call that many people. There are already videos and audio recordings that they can use for the purpose of investigation. 

“Even 20 years ago, the cops never summoned 20 people to have their statements recorded. This is a waste of resources. 

“We haven’t heard much from Ismail on human rights issues. Although things are changing in parliament – for instance, the anti-(party) hopping law – death in custody and abuse of power are still rampant,” he said. 

Malaysian Muslim Consumer Association activist Nadzim Johan feels Ismail has tried his best to fix the country’s situation. 

The activist acknowledged that while Ismail could have done more, the effort shown by the Umno man must be praised. 

“Food issues and high cost of living have not been fixed. That, we have to admit. Things could be better and he could have done better.

“However, we have to praise him for the effort he put into trying to solve the problems. Yes, he could do more, but in his first year, I say he’s done a decent job. If we could give (him) more time, maybe we can rate him further,” he said.

He noted Ismail’s government has also provided various consumption subsidies, including for water, electricity and cooking oil. 

Putrajaya also scrapped bottled cooking oil subsidies, while the ceiling price for chicken and eggs, along with fuel subsidies, have remained. – August 24, 2022.