Malaysia is currently in the throes of an economic morass. Yet, there seems to be no urgency on the part of the current government to address the economic problems plaguing the nation.
These include a sliding ringgit (RM4.58 to US$1) that remains on a downward trend, the high cost of living as a result of the government’s inability to rein in the ever-increasing prices of basic necessities, the closure of many small, and medium businesses, critical labour shortages, the increasing poverty rate, and a national debt that stands at RM1.045 trillion.
Instead of focusing on these critical elements, the politicians are obsessed with calling for the 15th General Election soonest, whatever the cost, come flood or fire, mud or mire.
Umno politicians, especially those facing corruption charges, want an early election to regain power, allegedly to put in place a more “pliant” governance administrative structure that will supposedly do their bidding.
What is worrying is that the current government is at a loss as to how to solve our economic predicament. The finance minister is in a state of total denial, repeating ad nauseum, that our fundamentals are strong, that our trillion-ringgit national debt is manageable, and that our ringgit is performing better than some of the regional currencies.
In fact, the ringgit is plunging into uncharted territory and this has already impacted our economy.
Even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been reticent on measures to arrest the decline of the ringgit, the soaring cost of living, and how to manage the country’s debt.
His cabinet, comprising a motley crew whose members were chosen, not because of their professional expertise, but rather, due to political expediency, are also unable to address the economic and social problems afflicting the country.
Even the National Recovery Council, headed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and the Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation, headed by Tan Sri Annuar Musa, have been ineffective.
The irony is that leaders in the current government refuse to accept responsibility for their failure in managing the economy. They conveniently cite external factors as being the cause, and blame other people for the country’s economic fiasco.
The prime minister should enlist the help of professionals from various sectors and academia to solve the current economic problems, especially with regard to our currency, and stem the haemorrhaging and plundering of the national coffers, as part of a broader strategy to stabilise the economy. He should also not be distracted by sectarian political interests pushing for an early election.
We should let the present parliamentary term run its course and allow the prime minister to salvage the economy without the threat of election hanging over his head like the Sword of Damocles.
The country is in need of a drastic change to extricate itself from the economic and social morass, the result of incompetent and corrupt
leadership that we have had to endure over the past 65 years.
GE15 is a critical and cathartic moment to determine the fate of the nation.
The people must accept their sacred responsibility in discharging their duties in rejecting corrupt and criminally tainted politicians, as well as religious bigots and racists who have, for so long, duped the people to further their own selfish and greedy interests.
We should strive to have a clean, accountable, and selfless government.
This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Twentytwo13.
