100-day performance that wasn’t so – JD Lovrenciear

[superadmin]

THE celebration of sorts by the Malaysian government of the day proclaiming its own assessment and announcing its 90% success in meeting a standard of excellence for the first 100 days under the stewardship of the newly minted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is drawing an unending stream of flak on social media and a few independent online news portals.

Firstly, the reasons for the criticism are the most obvious. In the world of management, performance evaluation must fundamentally reflect independence and impartiality in assessment and verification.

But when ministers themselves present their own powerpoint-rendered achievements and collectively agree that the Ismail Sabri government has achieved dramatic success in 100 days, people will certainly see through the veil of glorification.

Secondly, a massive crowd assembling at a venue to walk through the showcased successes draws even more suspicion. Many are asking what is so difficult in getting condescending staff from every ministry to be present to make the crowd look impressive?

Yes, the above two yardsticks will measure and render whether the Ismail Sabri government deserves accolades and applause from 32 million people.

Should the prime minister not see the merit in asking citizens to assess the 100 days’ performance of his government?

A pool of eminent, learned experts and civil society leaders with independent audit experts could have easily given their assessment that would have been perceived as independent and transparent.

But it wasn’t so.

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