Good show not using govt machinery in by-elections

OF late, the Pakatan Harapan administration has received brickbats from various quarters, including the media, over several unfulfilled electoral promises. Some of the criticisms were indeed justified, particularly those relating to the administration’s perceived inability to effectively rein in the high cost of living and deal with other bread-and-butter issues affecting Malay­sians. Others include the failure to adopt effective communication skills in conveying the government’s policies and programmes to the Malaysian public.

Notwithstanding these drawbacks, I think one area in which Pakatan has done well is the inculcation of healthy democratic values within the country’s body politic. Apart from affording the media and the Malaysian public greater democratic space, the current administration has shown its commitment not to misuse government machinery to garner votes during campaigns for by-elections.