CIVIL society organisations are impressed with Pakatan Harapan’s resolve to tackle corruption, especially over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal but are still disappointed with the lack of progress in other areas of institutional independence and civil liberties.

As the new government approaches its first 100 days in power tomorrow, Bersih 2.0’s acting chairman Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari said progress on such reforms “could be better, or (at least) more apparent”.

Lack of electoral reforms and the delay in repealing oppressive laws, such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma), National Security Council (NSC) Act and the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU), were among the failures highlighted by these groups.

“Some of the draconian laws have not been officially repealed, like Sosma and NSC. We are especially worried that they say AUKU could take five years to repeal,” said Ho Yock Lin, programme director at Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM).

She was referring to Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik’s statement that the government would repeal the AUKU “within” the next five years.

PH promised to repeal these laws, specifically referencing Sosma, NSC and AUKU among others, in its manifesto before the 14th general election. However, as the first Dewan Rakyat sitting as a government nears the end, repeal bills for these acts have yet to be tabled.

Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) executive director Sumitra Visvanathan said she was concerned over the handling of child marriages.

“It is alarming that there was delay issuing a clearly worded statement that child marriage is unacceptable,” she said, referring to verbal statements made by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry that at first did not appear firm in opposing child marriages after the case of a 41-year-old rubber trader marrying an 11-year-old girl emerged in early July.

On August 5, the ministry issued a press statement that categorically objected to child marriages and more so involving an adult partner.

Ho was also disappointed with the appointment of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Khazanah chairman, as the PH manifesto said the appointment of board members of state and national government-linked companies (GLC) would not be based on politics.

At the 100-day mark, she said, PH is “doing ok, but it’s a bit disappointing. They did very well on 1MDB, but they also have failed a lot of promises.”

Other promised reforms to ensure transparency and independence of institutions that PH, while it was the opposition, frequently taken Barisan Nasional to task over include local council elections, which Putrajaya said will be implemented within three years, citing the country’s financial constraints.

Although not a 100-day promise, Bersih and another group ENGAGE have dismissed such an excuse, calling instead for Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin to reveal the cost behind holding local council elections.

They also said consultations with stakeholders should begin immediately so that plans for implementation can be quickly put into action.

However, Ho did feel some progress has been made in the first 100 days, notably the tough stance on corruption and the willingness to make unconventional appointments to key posts.

“Appointing Tommy Thomas and other people regardless of race is good and will help deal with 1MDB and other scandals”, she said.

While little happened in terms of concrete reforms, the atmosphere around politics has improved under PH, she added.

“On the whole, the feeling among CSOs and among ordinary people is that the atmosphere is more open.”

Bersih also said PH has shown a willingness to listen to it in the Sg Kandis by-election.

“We put out a statement condemning a durian festival as a vote-buying exercise and they agreed to delay it,” said Shahrul.

Additionally, he said, “the Election Commission has opened up some new places, and the media are more open now”.

Ho said it was the responsibility of CSOs to continue providing constructive criticism to nurture a more productive government. – August 16, 2018.