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Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of think tank Center for Market Education said the U-turns were “problematic” and gave the impression that Putrajaya was caving in to public pressure.
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He said such reactiveness undermined the government’s credibility and created uncertainty among stakeholders.
“You cannot repeatedly announce something and then reverse it. The back-and-forth damages public trust and the perceived seriousness of the administration,” he told FMT.
Ferlito acknowledged that governments should always be sensitive to public opinion, but said there was a need to engage stakeholders prior to making announcements.
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Political scientist Wong Chin Huat of Sunway University, said policy flip-flops signal indecisiveness on the part of the government which would have repercussions on its authority and credibility.
Wong argued that the government must prepare the public for unpopular decisions through consultations and early announcements. He said public consultations help the government gain buy-in and reduce backlash.
“Transparency is critical in justifying decisions that may not sit well with everyone,” said Wong.
Last week, the government announced it would no longer give toll exemptions for festive seasons beginning this year. Works minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said Putrajaya will replace these exemptions with a “more targeted approach”.
However, three days later the government decided not to scrap toll waivers completely and instead said it will give a 50% discount on toll charges in conjunction with Chinese New Year.
Also in the past week, the Cabinet discontinued the implementation of a pilot scheme involving staggered working hours for healthcare workers. The Waktu Bekerja Berlainan scheme, which was initially set to be implemented in seven hospitals beginning next month, was scrapped following objections raised by various stakeholders.
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Syed Arabi Idid of the International Islamic University Malaysia said the backtracking was “very unusual”.
“It creates uncertainty among Malaysians as to the government’s seriousness in policymaking, especially if it is reversed within a couple of days,” he said when contacted.
Political diversity to blame
Barjoyai Bardai, the provost at the Malaysia University of Science and Technology, said the reversal of policies stem from the present Cabinet’s diverse political composition.
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He said ministers in the current government are drawn from diverse parties. Their decisions often reflect the interests of their political base and stakeholders.
“This creates a scenario where one minister’s decision might be challenged by another from a different party or stakeholders,” said Barjoyai.
He called for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to take on the role of “chief negotiator” to manage the diverse expectations within the Cabinet.
He said it was critical for Anwar to manage such diversity to keep the coalition intact, but acknowledged that the prime minister’s busy international schedule could hinder effective decision-making on the domestic front.
“The government should hold more frequent online Cabinet meetings so that every minister is on the same page. This would ensure better communication and allow the prime minister to stay updated on critical internal matters.”
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