Reformasi: we hear it, now we must feel it! – Ian McIntyre  

PENANG PKR Youth head Muhammad Fadzli Roslan was trying to drum up support for last week’s launching of the Penang PKR Youth and Wanita movement’s election machinery when he broke into the cries of “reformasi…reformasi” (reform).  

The instant reaction within the audience, which included the “Princess of Reformasi” Nurul Izzah Anwar, was likewise a thunderous response of “reformasi...reformasi.” 

The chorus of chants went on for the longest and loudest compared to the earlier cries of “Madani…Madani…” (civility mindset) or “lawan tetap lawan” (the fight continues). 

The stubby Fadzli flashed a broad smile – he had gotten the message across that PKR is ready to take on the likes of upstart PAS elections director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor – who days earlier had proclaimed that Penang should be part of Kedah. 

He also illustrated that while Al-Marhum Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj is anointed as the “founding father of Malaysia,” his tenth in-line successor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PMX) would likely be acclaimed as the “father of reform.” 

But being on the ground after some seven months in office, are the reforms progressing? 

Is the level of momentum enough to make the average person out there nod that there is a degree of difference or reforms under PMX’s administration? 

There is no clear-cut answer for now – the much-vaulted reforms remain at best something in motion, something in battle cries but yet to settle in practice among the over million civil service apparatus. 

The public sector is the best example of how one can determine if the reforms are indeed making their presence felt. 

Instead, there are contrasting actions to late reforms with the prime minister having little room to manoeuvre, especially with a unity government that includes ministers with court cases. 

The authorities within the Madani government seem more intent on going after watch shops that promote LGBTQ paraphernalia and a foreign comedian for jokes about the lost MH370 aircraft.  

What about the dozens of police reports against politicians for slanderous and seditious remarks? 

The point is, aren’t there more serious subject matters into which our law enforcers and the legal fraternity can sink their teeth? Perhaps the backlog of court cases – as justice delayed is justice denied – or the seemingly impossible task of fighting online scams?

Is it time best spent pursuing Sanusi who as Kedah menteri besar, staked his claim on Penang? We know it is political rhetoric and, as the prime minister responded, unconstitutional.  

The Madani government cannot be distracted from the core issue: the economy.

There is a disconnect between what is executed in Putrajaya and what is happening on the ground.  

Everywhere PMX goes, the common query is the people want more help, more aid and more “cushions” to weather the rising living costs and till today, there is a sense of disbelief that Bank Negara went ahead to raise the overnight policy rate by 25 basis points to 3.0 despite the daily complaint that everything is now “so expensive.” 

Although it was expected sometime this year, several economists including former finance minister Lim Guan Eng had opined that there is a need to hold off hiking borrowing costs in preference for driving domestic consumption and to allow consumers time to rebuild their lives following the crippling effects of Covid-19. 

The reforms here are a better need to explain policies, and for those whose actions affect the daily lives of millions, to be more transparent about what and why they are doing it. 

For decades, everywhere Anwar goes, there were cries for reform. 

And how he is in the position to make the much-desired reforms a reality. 

“Reformasi” should no longer just be a constant cry in the back but something which is actionable – it is physical, it can be felt. 

Words will ring hollow if they are not accompanied by real change. – The Vibes, June 15, 2023

The writer is The Vibes’ Northern Bureau chief