OVER the past few weeks, we have seen several interesting developments in Malaysia.

However, political parties – especially those not aligned with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim – seem to have their focus elsewhere. 

First, we had a PM’s visit to China that resulted in a record investment of RM170 billion. 

An effective opposition would have asked for concrete proof, where the money would be injected, prospective job opportunities, technology gained or value chains created.

It would have forced the government to lay out plans for and commit to this timeframe, and hold the cabinet to its promises, benefiting the rakyat.  

Yet, PN’s focus seemed to be on the PM’s trip to Saudi Arabia instead.

The only questions seemed to come from civil society groups and think tanks.

Yet, even their interest seemed to have a racially tinged angle.

We also had a slew of issues pertaining to the Health Ministry.

For starters, we had a little-heard-of group called Mogok Doktor Kontrak. The timing of this seems suspicious, and the manner in which the group invoked political parties in responding to interview requests doesn’t gel well with claims of neutrality, but the issue remains important.

We have had two “quasi” strikes and doctors are a critical part of our national health system.

Yet the narrative by the ministry seemed to downplay the issue.

It was an opportunity to present an action plan and engage the doctors (even if the group claiming to represent them was not really seeking engagement) through other medical associations, or even more established groups like Hartal Doktor Kontrak. 

There are other issues that also requiring explanation from the ministry: the removal of nicotine from the poisons list and the unusual use of the minister’s veto power to do so.

Or was the reason simply taxation? What about Johor’s blanket ban on the drug?

We had several high-profile cybersecurity breaches, targeting private and public organisations, and this warrants public concern.

Most recently, the Immigration Department website was taken offline. Our present IT laws are not as up to date as some of our neighbours, yet we are formulating national policies regarding cloud, the Internet of Things, fintech, and creation of open-source platforms and public domain datasets.

Perhaps it is time for a comprehensive review of our government’s IT strategy, laws governing them and our infrastructure to cater for these ambitious plans.  

Yet – when we have MPs who are more interested in the wi-fi coverage of parliament, the possibility of government “hacking” their phones and targeting their personal TikTok accounts – we make ourselves appear little different from the highly publicised, equally highly ridiculed TikTok congressional hearing in the United States. 

We have had amazing law reform developments too, such as abolishing the mandatory death penalty.

Yet the opposition, which is supposed to counterbalance any argument brought forward by the government, was not really heard presenting any case to the contrary.

Consistency is also important in setting a counter narrative.

For example, if you are for the dismantling of monopolies on one hand, you cannot turn around and question such dismantling in the name of Bumiputera policy.

To confound the argument further, you seek to both defend the need for some monopolies for the sake of national interests, yet question working relationships between those monopolies with the government. 

This fixation on populism instead of realpolitik is causing us many missed opportunities and necessary debates. 

We should be questioning the government’s plans on fixing the economy, and holding them to their promises, not asking them to allow everyone to drain their life savings just to score some short-term political points. – April 5, 2023.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* 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.