The Pakatan Harapan government must work harder to prove to voters that the coalition is capable of holding power for more than one term, even if it means reshuffling the cabinet or sacking ineffective ministers, said veteran journalist A Kadir Jasin.
- PH should consider reshuffling cabinet or sacking ineffective ministers
- Ministers should examine themselves critically or risk being seen as “inept, arrogant and aloof”
- Government should push for swift action against Najib
As Pakatan prepares to close out its first year in Putrajaya, the pact will be subjected to greater scrutiny by the people, the press and investors, Kadir wrote in his blog today.
“To pass this public relations and confidence test, PH has to improve its storytelling. It may even have to consider rearranging or firing some cast members.
“The plot and narrative must be understood and believed by the people and the cast must be respected. There is no role for clowns and comic characters,” he wrote.
He urged ministers to examine themselves critically or risk being seen as “inept, arrogant and aloof”.
“Moving ahead, PH must work hard and smart to fulfill the aspirations of the people and prove to them that it is not a one-term government. It is here to stay.”
Last month, research firm Fitch Solutions Macro Research predicted a drop in Pakatan’s popularity in the coming months due to its policies and infighting within the coalition.
Kadir, who is also Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s media and communications adviser, said the latter’s advice to ministers was to “think harder before they talk, look before they leap and discuss with the cabinet and PH on important matters”.
He also said that the government should push for swift action to be taken against former prime minister Najib Razak, as the public was growing impatient with the protracted court cases against him linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
Najib, who faces 42 charges of corruption and money laundering, has yet to go to trial, and his defence team is filing four appeals due to be heard today and tomorrow.
“The longer Najib is allowed the freedom to make a mockery of the law, the greater the risk of the people seeing justice as favoring the rich and the powerful. Or worse still, he is (found) not guilty,” wrote Kadir.
“Still, the law must be allowed to run its course.
“The PH government cannot do to Najib what he did to his enemies and to the institutions of the state. Najib has no qualm about perverting the laws to his advantage.” – TMI