IT is common grouse among Pakatan Harapan supporters that the government’s communications need to be improved, and all good initiatives must be highlighted.

Perhaps a bit more significant than that, is the need to have a plan that is structured and simple, one we could all get behind. 

One year into the government, the communications seemed centred around creating an image around the prime minister.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is portrayed as a fast paced, globally recognised leader who focuses on the “little things” that affect the common man most – toilets in schools, lifts in B40 flats and micro allocations in universities for urgent infrastructure needs and food subsidies. 

The government is also portrayed as working hard to solve these “little man” issues largely inherited from the previous administrations.  

These issues are important, but perhaps more important are income generation and a long-term financial plan understood by Malaysians, who will be able to then contribute to this plan.

Campaigns like Buy Malaysian in the past was able to drive our local manufacturing sector and while the economy minister may be onto something by mobilising our consumers to force prices of goods down, the other initiatives on cost of living seemed centred on subsidies and coaxing the private sector into large scale corporate social responsibility programmes that do not seem sustainable. 

Although the global outlook seems bleak, there does not seem to be a comprehensive, structured plan to weather the storm, or at least it is not sufficiently communicated with the people, making it believable we are drifting through and hoping for the best. 

Populist policies like imposing taxes on the rich may earn some short-term gains before they figure out how to move their money (or even businesses) out of the country.  

We must accept the fact that several populist policies in the past are bleeding the country dry.

The subsidy systems we have in place are antiquated and have been riddled with corruption and used as a tool for political favours and largesse.

Leakages are preventing goals from being achieved. We are one of the last countries still providing pensions for government employees in perpetuity.

While the Retirement Fund Incorporated’s reform initiatives have improved governance and its performance, it still relies heavily on direct and indirect government contributions. 

Similarly, we need to relook the priorities of spending, in a government structure that was designed in the 1990s when we were in a much stronger economic position.

Our infrastructure too, needs to be rationalised, with the focus turned to the local economy and grassroots initiatives. 

Our politics too, have shifted dangerously and forcefully, to the right. Politicians are openly discussing race and religion, adding unneeded pressure to already strained ties.

Our diversity, which has been a source of strength and our unique selling point from virtually all angles – from education to tourism to the economy – is now at risk. 

We need to follow the money and abandon unprofitable, unproductive policies and efforts and focus on a few things and lead (again) in those areas. 

These may not be populist or what the electorate wants to hear, but these need to be addressed and its aim and results communicated to the people. If it is structured and systematic enough it should be better accepted.

We need to move away from U-turns and half-implemented policies that end up causing more damage than it solves. Key examples would include the implementation of Goods and Services Tax or the floating of consumer fuel prices. 

With the politics of our country now stabilised, perhaps it is a good time to realign the principles of the Madani government, especially with regard to its first principle – sustainability – to put us back on the right trajectories. – October 4, 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.