With stability, 2024 has promise

IT was a year which started with much promise, and plenty of promises.

A new government was in place, there was talk of reform, an anti-corruption campaign, a better economy which would consign to memory the problems that came with the Covid-19 pandemic, and of changes to draconian laws.

But before any of the promises could be fulfilled, the bigger talk was that the government itself could fall. Moves were afoot from the get-go to bring down the administration, with a lot of political to-ing and fro-ing.

But with the year coming to an end, the administration of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim looks to be in a safer place, with the likes of PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang and Bersatu chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin resigned to a few more years of the unity government.

Even the elections in six states brought little change in the status quo. Despite the race and religious rhetoric, the so-called Green Wave did not turn into a tsunami.

The current King is in no mood for a change of government and the new one, who will take over early next year, is even less keen. That should put paid to any attempts to topple the government.

With a steady ship now, there is opportunity for the government to sail ahead. It is not as if the government has not already moved on its promises of reform.

One major reform was the end of the mandatory death penalty, a welcome change. It gives judges their rightful role to decide on punishments according to the merits of the cases.

But there are other laws, on freedom of the press, on human rights, rights of assembly and the archaic Sedition Act which all remain on the books.

Then there was the Madani Economy Plan, the National Energy Transition Roadmap and New Industrial Master Plan, among others.

The economic plan is targeted at taking the country out of the middle-income trap, the energy roadmap plans to make Malaysia a regional leader in clean energy while the Industrial Master Plan is to increase manufacturing value, with a target of 6.5% per annum improvement in value-add until 2030.

But while all that will take time, the progressive wage policy may be something closer. It promises higher salaries for workers who will also be given training to be more productive, raising standards in Malaysia.

Still, the complaints are already coming in, about the additional costs. Costs, really, have been a major concern throughout the year.

The prices of everything seem to be on the upward trend, and shortages are common.

There were no eggs, there was no chicken. And, at one time, it looked like there was no solution, with the government walking on eggshells.

But things have been brought under control. Some alleged cartels are being investigated. Prices have been reined in and supply is plentiful.

And then, there is (was?) the Menu Rahmah. It started with a bang, a great idea to help stretch the already stretched ringgit.

But there is only so far you can stretch things before they snap. Many of the Menu Rahmah dealers had to give up because they could not afford to keep prices down. Those not in the programme complained that it was unfair competition.

Thankfully, it is still going on, even if not at full steam. At last count, over 1,200 shops are still offering Menu Rahmah, thanks to discount cards for ingredients at several major hypermarkets.

If prices have been going up, the ringgit itself has been going down. When the unity government first took charge, the ringgit was buoyant. It rose to RM4.20 against the US dollar in late January but fell to RM4.70 in November before ending the year in the RM4.60 region.

But things could get better in the new year, with the US Fed not likely to raise rates.

All the talk about anti-corruption, too, took a huge hit when Anwar’s deputy Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on his corruption charge – after the judge found that a prima facie case had been established and called for his defence.

A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officer whom I met while on holiday abroad was himself stunned by the decision.

“After all our investigations, this is the decision they make?” he asked, incredulous.

Several others walked free too. Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was acquitted in a RM232.5mil case in connection with the Jana Wibawa project, while Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and his wife Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad were freed of a RM2.8mil corruption charge involving a RM150mil investment in unit trust accounts.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was also freed in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) audit tampering case, along with former 1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy.

Still, the anti-corruption train has not been completely derailed. Recent events which led to the seizure of a billion-ringgit building in the heart of Kuala Lumpur could see the clean-up back on track.

With some of the country’s biggest names involved in the investigations, one never knows what can happen. For sure, a Pandora’s box has been opened. And there are about a dozen other names in that box.

Muar MP and Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, too, was found guilty of corruption. He is now appealing the case.

In Parliament, there was good news for women with children born to foreign spouses abroad. They won their fight in court and the government changed the laws, but it came with a catch.

The children will be given citizenship but it may not be passed down. And critics say an amendment will also create a huge pool of stateless children, especially those who are abandoned but adopted by Malaysians.

Malaysia being what it is, there is never a year when race is not a factor. Those out to topple the administration say Anwar has let the Malays down, fanning the Green Wave. The Prime Minister is working hard on winning them over, to the annoyance of the Chinese and Indians, especially the Indians.

Despite his MGR-Sivaji song-and-dance, Anwar is having a hard time with the Indians. Starting with officiating over a Hindu’s conversion to Islam, to the absence of a Tamil-speaking full minister in his Cabinet to the quoting the “k” word from Hikayat Hang Tuah, he seems to be putting his wrong foot forward in Indian issues.

It is not going get any easier in the new year. There will be more silly issues – like people being barred from hospitals and police stations for wearing shorts, Merry Christmas messages being scorned, and university professors spouting nonsense.

And there will be new taxes – higher service tax in many sectors, low value goods taxes if you buy online and high value goods tax if you buy luxury items and expensive cars.

There will also be higher power bills for 1.2 million people, including yours truly, while Penangites and Melakans are likely to end up with higher water bills.

The new year promises to be harder, before it gets easier. Hopefully.

Happy New Year, everyone.