PAKATAN Harapan yesterday kicked off the Jelajah Malaysia Baharu series of monthly ceramah, in the prime minister’s hometown of Kedah.

Aimed at answering its critics and the main opposition bloc Barisan Nasional and its ally, PAS, the ceramah will be held each month in a different venue in the country. Coalition leaders will take turns explaining to the rakyat why PH could not fulfil its first-100 days promises. 

At the first event last night, hugely popular orator, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu admitted with a disarming humility that many of the ministers, him included, were “new” and still learning the ropes.

“The prime minister recently chided some of us for being ‘too opposition’. But aside from Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Lim Guan Eng and Azmin Ali, many of us spent the last 40 years as the opposition. So we are still learning how to be ministers,” he said.

“But we are sincere about wanting to correct the structure of government.

Mohamad pointed to the appointment of the new chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, Ronald Kiandee of BN, as one of the examples of the government’s efforts at reform. 

He said the new government was also sincere about fulfilling its promises and for a start, it had already removed the unpopular goods and services tax.

“And now we are here to explain to the voters why we have not fulfilled all the manifesto promises, starting in Alor Star, and in a new place each month after this. The next will be in Sabah,” said the Amanah president.

He said PH had also underestimated the task ahead as the problems that had been revealed up till now were only “the tip of the iceberg”.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail reiterated the government’s commiitment to uplift the hardcare poor, hence the quick rollout of the savings scheme for homemakers, which came into effect this month.

“Ahead of our 61st Merdeka, we as Malaysians have much to be proud of for the peaceful transition that has taken place. But while we have changed government, the journey to rectify the wrongs is ahead of us,” said the PKR president.

Rehabilitating Malaysia

Dr Mahathir, who spoke next, said he had underestimated the extent of the damage BN had wreaked on the country.

“Not only did it leave us saddled with a RM1 trillion debt, BN also destroyed the civil service by co-opting top officers into the party.

“The officers were meant to be administrators but they were used to campaign for BN during the elections. 

“Now we are unsure if our instructions would be carried out properly,” said Dr Mahathir.

The Pakatan chairman said it was easier for him when he took office in 1983 because he had inherited a sound government and decent finances.

“But now, we have to spend time cleaning up the ministries.”

He pointed to the recent issue of newly appointed PH staff who did not receive salaries for up to three months, as an example of BN’s legacy of inefficiency in the civil service.

“We hired new officers but the civil service did not pay them for three months. Hence, we cannot work properly.”

Dr Mahathir promised Malaysia would achieve Vision 2020 or developed nation status, albeit “a bit late”.

“Although there are challenges, (to repay debts and rehabilitate the government machinery), we have a plan. And hopefully, Vision 2020 will not take too long (to achieve).”

No such thing as free money

The nonagenarian warned that the government would eventually stop handing out “free money”.

“People ask if we will give free cash too. If you let us steal, we can do that too,” said Dr Mahathir.

He said PH will focus on creating more jobs and business opportunities rather than hand out easy money.

“When people are rich, the government will be rich too because of the taxes it can collect. It is in the interest of the government to enrich the people,” said Dr Mahathir at the event that resembled many of PH’s pre-government functions rather than that of the government of the day.

The ceramah outside PH headquarters in StarGate was held in the typical PH fashion, pre-Putrajaya, with the usual set-up of tents, seating and hawker fare for the audience. A video montage recapping the GE14 campaign was screened. Unlike the previous government, PH was careful not use any government machinery. 

The only thing missing from the event was the customary “donation box” for Malaysians to help fund the event.

Dr Mahathir thanked voters for restoring his faith in democracy.

“There was a time I felt that democracy was not good. How could democracy have given us a thief? Although he was elected, he was a thief who gave free money.

“That’s not the principle for developing a country,” said Dr Mahathir, who was fiercely critical of Najib’s BR1M campaign.

He praised Malaysians for their courage to vote for change.

“And for now, your first benefit is relief at removing Najib. There were so many people smiling at another after Najib lost. 

“As such, it is the voters and not PH who deserve a pat on the back.” – August 26, 2018.