The new coalition government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is proposing a slew of reforms, ostensibly to cleanse the system of governance so that it will be fiscally prudent to benefit the people, instead of the elites and the politically connected, as was the case in the previous governments.
He set off on this mission by refusing a salary and getting his ministers to agree to a 20 per cent pay cut, which for the most part, is just symbolic rather than functional, for it will not alleviate the suffering of the masses.
The savings may be miniscule, but the political mileage is huge.
Anwar’s austerity drive is moving into various facets of governance. He has also ordered a halt of a RM7 billion flood mitigation project, awarded through direct negotiations by the previous government.
Anwar has also said that ministries should discontinue the practice of splurging taxpayers’ money to welcome ministers and other dignitaries to officiate functions. He referred to the practice of giving out batik shirts at these functions to top government officials.
In addition, the current government will no longer implement direct negotiations for government projects, unless necessary.
This is to avoid corruption through unjustified mark-ups that could be channelled as kickbacks for politicians and senior civil servants.
The prime minister also issued a directive to terminate the contracts of all political appointees to government-linked companies (GLCs) and government statutory bodies, involving around 200 appointments done by the previous administration.
While Anwar’s Cabinet had initially decided to only appoint professionals to these positions, the directive was later amended to allow for eminently qualified politicians to be considered.
Anwar has declared that one of his main agendas is to cleanse the country of corruption.
It is a noble cause but the challenge is daunting as corruption has become endemic in our social, economic, and political fabric after 60 years.
Be that as it may, Anwar must first clean his own house, otherwise the fight against corruption will only be just rhetoric.
Anwar knows that in politics, principles are a dime a dozen and upholding them is subject to the expediency of the prevailing circumstances.
He must negotiate through the current political terrain, which is treacherous and pockmarked with precipices and crevasses, waiting to swallow those who let their guard down.
Thus, some of his political decisions and appointments may not tally with his noble declarations, only because the political scenario warrants such an action.
Such decisions give fodder to the predatory opposition, who is waiting to undermine and distract the administration from social economic reforms that would benefit the people, just so they could put the administration in a bad light, for the tussle for power continues even after the general election.
Anwar should not counter the opposition Pas/Bersatu challenge by trying to outdo them in religious and Malay fervour, but instead, keep an even keel that is tolerant of the multi-religious, multiracial, and multi-cultural reality that is Malaysia.
He should keep to his declaration of a peoples’-oriented government – a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
He should walk the talk and not just leave this declaration as a rhetorical assertion, as was the case of the previous governments that took advantage of their political position and the rakyat’s gullibility.
It is commendable that Anwar has set the stage for the nation’s economic recovery through a stable and business-friendly government that does not tolerate corruption in whatever form.
At the same time, he has initiated measures to address the issue of the high cost of living, of especially the B40 and M40, and improve their standard of living.
Above all, he reiterated that elected politicians are there to serve the people, not themselves.
Let us give him the space to walk the talk.
This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Twentytwo13.
