The new Malaysia promised in last years election has failed to materialize
Sholto Byrnes
This time last year, Malaysia was in a state of shock after the Barisan Nasional coalition which had been in government since independence in 1957 lost the May general election. There was euphoria, too, not only felt by the victors. That the first ever democratic transition took place peacefully, with no attempt by the previous administration, headed by Najib Tun Razak, to cling on, was a sign of political maturity not always found in developing countries. The new government promised much. It seemed as though there was something for almost everyone to cheer.
One year on, the celebrations have been distinctly muted. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad marked the first anniversary of his return to power he previously led the nation from 1981 to 2003 as the head of the United Malays National Organisation, part of Barisan Nasionals coalition with a speech in which he announced a new plan called Shared Prosperity, which aims to achieve sustainable and equitable growth and harmony and stability among the people by 2030. Just days before, however, he had given his own cabinet only five out of 10 for their work so far hardly the most ringing of endorsements. The Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration might have won a by-election in the state of Sabah last weekend but it was a seat it expected to retain. The previous three by-elections were all victories for the new Barisan Nasional opposition, in which Najib campaigned with a new motorbike-riding, man-of-the-people persona that appears to have gained some traction on social media. For an ex-prime minister facing an array of charges, mostly related to the 1MDB scandal, that could see him jailed for the rest of his life, he appears to be remarkably buoyant and relaxed.
The PH administration has some achievements to be proud of, such as reinvigorating the countrys Electoral Commission and making efforts to improve scrutiny of the government of the day in parliament. But disappointment is widespread: at the U-turns on signing up to innocuous UN human rights treaties; over the perception that cost of living issues are not being addressed, a crucial factor in last years election; and that many of the promises in PHs manifesto have not been implemented.
Dr Mahathir has answered the last point by saying that when the pledges were made, we didnt expect to win, which might be typically frank but is hardly the most satisfying of explanations. Those expecting liberal reforms feel particularly let down.
Dr Mahathir and other friends of PH have said that the new ministers are inexperienced and should be given more time. But the home, foreign, finance and economic affairs ministers have all previously held high office while other highly respected ex-cabinet ministers are advisers or members of different PH component parties. Many agree that the initial period after PH won last years election was a huge missed opportunity. It was then, when there was such goodwill towards the new government, that it had the political capital to make some tough decisions, such as changing the positive discrimination policy that favours Malays. They are, overall, a poorer segment of society which includes many other ethnicities, mainly Chinese, Indian and other indigenous groups but most economists concur that the decades-long programme has become a crutch that holds back both the economy and Malays themselves. Other reforms could certainly have been enacted, like repealing the draconian Sedition Act, which is so vaguely worded it can be used to arrest anyone for almost anything.
The writer is a Malaysia-based commentator and consultant and a corresponding fellow of the
Erasmus Forum
