The Malaysian Insight

MOHAMAD Zaini Yusof and Asri Mektar could not contain their happiness when asked how they felt about the new Pakatan Harapan government two months after GE14.

“The morning after the (GE14) results, I felt like I could breathe again. Like an enormous weight had been lifted from my chest,” said Asri, 38, a Kelana Jaya resident who works in the property sector in the Klang Valley.

Kapar resident Zaini’s face lit up while talking about staying up during the early hours of May 10 as the GE14 results rolled in.

The euphoria the 52-year-old felt that day was only matched by the relief he feels today that he no longer has to pay RM1,200 per month in goods and services tax (GST) for his used-clothing shop.

But their warmth towards PH is still tempered by the belief that it’s too early to see any substantive change in the country. The new government must be given more time to implement its policies, they said.

They and seven of the 10 voters interviewed by The Malaysian Insight said, aside from the GST’s removal, not much has changed in their lives two months after the historic polls.

But they are willing to give PH a chance to prove itself.

PH campaigned on a promise to reform the country, stamp out corruption and more importantly for consumers, bring down living costs and increase wages.

It has also promised to offer free education at public universities, improve the healthcare system and bring down highway toll charges.  

But after discovering that the country’s debt stands at RM1 trillion, the administration has been forced to scale back and review some policies.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng told The Malaysian Insight that PH will only be able to fulfil these pledges once the government is in better financial shape.   

Small changes    

For now, voters, such as lecturer Aries Henry, are just satisfied with the fact that grocery bills are slightly lower.

On June 1, the government fulfilled a key promise to bring the GST rate down to zero which resulted in lower prices for certain processed and imported foods and household products.

Despite seeing only a small dip in his monthly grocery bill, Henry is still happy.

“Although, the reduction is 20 to 50 sen only, we are glad that there are changes to help consumers,” said the 40-year-old from Kota Kinabalu.

Fellow Sabahan, Priscilla Anabelle Sebastian, also noticed that she spent less on the same amount of items at the supermarket since June 1.

“I usually spent slightly more than RM50 a week on groceries but now without the 6% GST, my groceries have gone down below that,” said the 36-year-old graphic designer.

Those buying vehicles, such as Johorean Mohamad Hamzah, have reaped the most benefit from the tax holiday between the GST’s zero-rating to September and when the sales and services tax (SST) returns.

“I saved about RM3,000 on a new MyVi (in June). Although I didn’t see much change in my family’s weekly expenses,” said the 31-year-old civil servant from Segamat. 

Other voters noticed small changes to the country’s socio-political landscape.

“I like how everything in the media is transparent now. Feels different from the Najib Razak era,” said Inja Bucking (pic, right), 30, a public relations executive with an oil and gas company in Kuching, Sarawak.

Sarawak-based journalist Nigel Bolly said that he is looking forward to the reduction in prices for broadband services by year-end.

Giving PH a chance     

But Bolly and many of the others said that even as the government has changed, other aspects of life remained the same.

And they wonder whether PH can deliver on its other ambitious pledges.

“Food and drinks at kopitiams are still the same and I foresee after SST, prices could still be higher,” said the 30-year-old Kuching resident.  

Penangnite Mohd Hilmi Makhti doubts the new government can fulfil its pledges.

“They promised to do a lot of things. The question is can they deliver all that they have promised, like scrapping toll. I don’t think it is so easy,” said the 36-year-old pickle seller in George Town.

But despite their doubts, more than half of those interviewed were willing to wait and give PH a chance.

“It is still too early to judge this new government. I cannot say I am happier now. I am not feeling the change,” said unit trust consultant Nadhirah Ahmad Kamal in Penang.

Pensioner N. Raja said his daily routine has not changed since May 10.

“Everything feels the same,” said 60-year-old from Selangor.

“Maybe in a few years, we will see and feel the changes as the new government implements new policies.”

Bucking, the Kuching resident, said the government should be given time to get its bearings, given that a majority of the ministers are first-timers.

“So you can’t judge them now, if things seem to be out of control. I think five years is enough time for them to prove themselves.” – July 9, 2018.