Honeymoon’s over for Pakatan: Prof
Published on: Saturday, March 02, 2019
By: David Thien
Kota Kinabalu: Director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania, Prof James Chin (pic), said the honeymoon period is over for Pakatan Harapan.
“The number of former supporters criticising Pakatan Harapan will go up and up.
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“In the rural areas, no GST does not translate into cheaper goods and services. With some subsidies gone, some worry over Felda and low prices for oil palm fruits and rubber.”
Chin is an expert on governance issues in Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, with a strong track record of media and community engagement.
He presented a paper on the “New Malaysia”, East Malaysia and indigenous rights, recently, at the Borneo Rainforest Law Conference 2019.
How has indigenous rights for Orang Asli, natives of Sabah and Sarawak been affected? Who are speaking up for them?
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He said since 1970, there was no national consensus on what “Malaysia” is.
“There are competing visions from ‘Malay state’ to ‘Islamic state’ to ‘Malay-Islamic state’. Even if there is a national consensus, will Sabah and Sarawak natives accept this vision?”
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He said political disagreement is more robust under the Pakatan Harapan government because there is no dominant party and different groups or classes campaign for their party’s vision.
“Umno and PAS keep baiting Pakatan Harapan with Islam and Malay Rights.”
According to Chin, social capital appears to be diminishing, caused by hate speech from extremist and right-wing groups, using Muslim versus non-Muslim approach, thus, lowering of trust across ethnic groups. The process is happening in Sabah and Sarawak as well now driven by social media.
“Fake news is a key feature on the breakdown of social capital,” he said.
Malaysia underwent its first change of government in May 2018 after 60 years of uninterrupted rule by the United Malays National Organisation (Umno).
Sabah underwent a change of State Government as well, when a combination of Parti Warisan Sabah and Pakatan Harapan (PH), replaced Sabah Barisan Natsonal.
Sabah BN had ruled for 24 years. Almost immediately, the Sarawak Barisan Nasional left the Federal BN and reconstituted themselves as Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
For Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the only immediate way to increase his party’s power is via defections from Umno as his Pakatan Harapan government parties received only about 25 per cent of Malay votes in the rural constituencies.
“It is too early to assess the Pakatan Harapan government. Starting point should be mid-term. Many of the criticisms are due to slow pace of reforms.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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