If the public statement by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairperson Abang Johari Openg at the national level Malaysia Day 2023 celebrations in Unity Stadium on 16 Sept 2023 which was attended by Anwar where he said GPS will continue to support the unity government led by PM10 until the next general election is not a forewarning for the unity government to deliver on their promises, I don’t know what else is.
Obviously, GPS has been monitoring developments of late and public sentiments against the unity government.
First and foremost on the mind of the people in Sarawak obviously is the commitment by the unity government to deliver on their promises and fulfillment of MA 63.
Next obviously will be the overall development of the country and will Sarawak and Sabah again be kept out of the mainstream development that is mainly concentrated in the states in Peninsular Malaysia that has been happening for the last 60 years?
If public sentiment is the yardstick to measure the effectiveness of the present government, the unity government could be just hanging by a thread for their ability and effectiveness in governing this country.
Unlike in 2018 where a lot of those helming the various ministries are greenhorns who have never had any experience in the machinations of the government and the civil service, almost everyone in the present government has had some prior experience before.
So for them to still underperform as perceived by the public clearly point to their ineffectiveness as a leader in the government tasked to improve the lives of the ordinary rakyat.
MUDA started the ball rolling a few weeks ago by announcing they are no longer part of the unity government but they will continue to support the government on reforms promised.
Now GPS gives a timeline for the support and cooperation.
What is next?
4 years is not a long time.
It can be very short given the often repeated excuse for reforms being delayed i.e. it takes time to study, review, discuss the draft reforms, and legislate it.
Given that the Ministers have been using this excuse for the slow pace of reforms being undertaken, maybe PM10 should invite back Syed Saddiq from MUDA to drive all reform bills and have it implemented before PM10 decides and calls for the 16th GE.
At least Syed Saddiq can crow about his achievements in successfully moving for a bi-partisan agreement to allow those from 18 and above to be automatically registered as a voter to it being legislated and implemented within a 12-month period.
Otherwise, given the slow pace and the common excuses by the Ministers in his Cabinet, PM10 could be staring from across the aisle after GE16 from his present seating arrangement in the Dewan Rakyat.
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