REAL BUSINESS OF GOVERNING

There is too much focus on past issues and not enough on the future

AS we move further away from the spring-time exuberance of May 9 into a potential winter of economic discontent, the rakyat (as well as international investors) are looking for clues as to the direction that the government will take.

The government has done a good job of highlighting and expounding on issues related to institutional governance. There are a plethora of positive moves: the move to abolish the death penalty, making the Election Commission more independent; Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching’s opening of schools to stateless children; the fact that policies can be debated without fear of retaliation.

However, the positive socio-political developments are at risk of being eclipsed by an unclear economic narrative.

Whilst there is little doubt that the balance sheet left by the previous government is not all accounted for, global headwinds and an acrimonious trade war between two economic behemoths make it even more imperative that the government take steps to chart a growth narrative that will return confidence to the rakyat and investors.

At this point in time, there is arguably too much focus on past issues and not enough on the future.

Civil servants have privately voiced their concerns that political considerations are taking priority over clear messaging.

The recent kerfuffle over the contents of the Pakatan Harapan manifesto is a good example — while there is no doubt that not all the promises will be fulfilled, the manner in which this was explained left a sour taste to many.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was candid when he said that promises were made because PH never thought it would win.

However, other colleagues then followed with conflicting statements.

These include making the assumption that there was money in the kitty, and in the case of one of the manifesto’s authors, arguing that most people did not read the manifesto properly in the first place.

It would have been better if a clear and simple explanation was given about how the PH coalition misread the situation, and will have to make do with what they have. Many of us would have appreciated the honesty. Instead, the differing narratives have led to trust issues.

While one may argue that these are only to be expected in a new government, the flipside to that is that the words of those who are governing have significant impact.

In a 24-hour news cycle and in a world where many of us obtain information via social media, improperly thought-out statements can alter market sentiment, shift the mood of rating agencies or even break the hearts of political idealists.

A lesson could perhaps be taken from the government of Sebastian Kurz in Austria. A recent article in The Atlantic noted that upon taking over as the chancellor last year, he appointed a single government spokesman that streamlined the government and the messaging that came out of it.

The writer is a respiratory physician with an interest in socioeconomic policies.