KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections ( BERSIH), Malaysia’s electoral watchdog, presented its performance “report card” for the nation’s prime ministers since 2009 during a public forum titled” Have We Achieved Change? Two Years of Unity Government, Eight Times After Bersih 5″.
Ismail Sabri emerged as the best among five officials evaluated, including Anwar Ibrahim, Muhyiddin Yassin, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Najib Razak.
The group applauded Ismail’s administration for reforms he carried out during his presidency, including the elimination of the voting age to 18 as a result of a memorandum of understanding ( MoU) with Pakatan Harapan ( PH), equal development funding for opposition MPs, and bipartisan support for the anti-hopping law.
In contrast, Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government was criticized for its gradual implementation of changes.
Ismail Sabri, Malaysia’s seventh prime minister, served from August 2021 to October 2022, completing a one-year name.
On Tuesday ( November ), Bersih chairman Faisal Abdul Aziz claimed that the government had broken the terms of its coalition partners, PH and BN, promises.
In both the PH and BN slogans, there are four unmet promises that are popular. When these promises were made, Anwar himself was PH’s head, according to Faisal.
Calling for Urgent Changes
Bersih urged Anwar’s administration to take action quickly as it approaches the halfway stage of its name, citing crucial changes like the Fixed Term Parliament Act and the Political Financing Act.
Additionally, it advocated for a 10-year word control for the prime minister and a detachment of the prosecutor’s duties.
Bersih acknowledged Anwar’s willingness to work with civil society, including a landmark meeting with the organization earlier this year, but it also noted that there has n’t been much progress since then.
Given that the Unity Government has a powerful parliamentary majority, it is perplexing how little significant changes have been implemented under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
There should be no justifications for ignoring low-hanging fruits and at least beginning steps toward big reforms with such a grip on power and no immediate risks to his premiership, according to the report, in stark contrast to what Ismail and Mahathir accomplished under their shorter, more delicate governments.
Criticism Criticism
Bersih even criticised the opposition coalition, Perikatan Nasional, for failing to follow a creative approach as a search on the state.
Bersih acknowledged the difficulties the opposition coalition in Malaysia faces, including structural flaws like the inequity of the district development funds ( CDF) and the limited opportunities to pass legislation or create bills for exclusive members.
According to the report, these obstacles underscore the need for constitutional reforms, which opposition MPs could negotiate through a potential memorandum of understanding ( MoU) with the Unity Government.
But, Bersih even called on the opposition to solve its domestic shortcomings. It criticised the alliance for lacking a organised Shadow Cabinet, a coherent policy platform, constant legislative participation, and equitable representation.
The watchdog’s caution to the unity government that reforms were in order before the upcoming general election underscored the necessity of legislative action.
