Give Anwar a break: 100 days aren’t enough for PM to execute proper reform

[superadmin]

A WEEK after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was installed as the country’s 10th Prime Minister, he officially announced his cabinet of 28 ministers hailing from Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in a “unity government” on Dec 2 last year.

Today, this government has already clocked 100 days old. Demanding an impeccable track record within 100 days is unreasonable.

However, if the Anwar administration is able to move in the right direction, his cabinet remains united, persistent in its effort to fight corruption and the civil servants perform their duties efficiently, we can truly look forward to a brand new Malaysia over the next five years.

Let’s take a look at what the unity government has done over the past three months.

1. To firm up his hold on power, Anwar had to go against the will of majority of Malaysians by naming UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who still has dozens of court cases awaiting him to be one of his two deputies.
   
   

Anwar must have weighed the pros and cons and was well aware that if he did not compromise, he would lose the chance of leading the nation. He had to make what was perceived as “essential” decision.

On Feb 21, Anwar defended Zahid’s appointment in the Parliament by saying that even with the court cases still pending, Zahid did not have to resign before he was convicted, adding that he had faithfully been sticking to the unity government’s principle of governance.

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