Celebrate change with gratitude and hope

WE all thank the Almighty for the glorious GE 14 and the blessed results.

The will of the people prevailed. We have changed the BN government to the Pakatan Harapan government under Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

While we want to be gracious in our farewells to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and BN leaders, we want to warmly welcome the Pakatan Harapan leaders.

Malaysia’s dramatic change in government at the federal level and in many state governments, with security and stability and so smoothly, is a source of great pride and gratitude as well.

It’s also a tribute to the deep sense of unity, loyalty, harmony and strong religious and moral values, of all Malaysians. Congratulations are due to all Malaysians who fought for justice and fairness and nationalism.

Our collective hope is that the wrongs will be put right by the new government; Malaysian money that has been illegally taken away from Malaysians must be returned.

There must be more policies based on the rakyat’s needs and rights.

We must ensure that our planning and implementation and national institutions adhere to the Federal Constitution.

It’s the very deviation and defiance of many of our constitutional rights that created the resentment against the government.

These undercurrents of resentment and a sense of frustration and even hopelessness arose from the gradual decay and decline due to inter alia – cronyism, corruption, wastage of public funds, inefficiencies and the consequent high costs of living and polarisation and widening income inequality

The first 100 days must address the above issues and weaknesses that eroded public confidence in the previous government.

We look forward to the new government to bring about real structural change.

The people have given Malaysia a new mandate, a new federal government, many new state governments and many new leaders. We have done our best as patriotic Malaysians.

Now we the people, including the 1.6 million civil servants and their families can sincerely pledge our full support, dedication and commitment to serve God, king and country with greater patriotism.

With this national and public pledge of support to the new leaders, we the rakyat, hope and pray that you will justify our simple faith and trust in you – our new leaders.

Please don’t repeat past mistakes. Learn from the past errors and help to give us all Malaysians a better Malaysia that is more united, progressive, prosperous and happy.

So let’s celebrate this God given victory and may God bless all of us in our energetic endeavours to make our beloved and beautiful Malaysia, an even greater country.

Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam Chairman Asli Centre for Public Policy Studies