The Malaysian Insight

AS Pakatan Harapan marks 100 days in power today, the lack of economic progress and the hero worship of political personalities have earned it a “D” grade from Liow Tiong Lai.

The MCA president said PH only focused on winning the people’s hearts rather than fulfilling its manifesto pledges.

“I regret that PH has not honoured its 100-day pledges and development has taken a backseat.

“I expect them to perform better than the previous administration and I urge the government to not be bull-headed, especially Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, who had made announcements without thinking them through first, presenting himself as a hero to the people,” Liow told The Malaysian Insight.

He cited Lim’s claim that RM18 billion is “missing” from the goods and services tax refund account as damaging the country’s financial credibility.

Such allegations, he said, without investigations are prejudicial to the previous government.

“I had high expectations of Lim. I hoped that he could put the people and the needs of the country above himself, and I think many are now disappointed in him.”

Liow said the public had high hopes for the PH government but now that it had back-tracked on many of its electoral pledges, the people are left disappointed.

The failed pledges include stabilising fuel prices, abolishing the debts of Felda settlers and issues facing the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loan, among others.

“PH seems to be more interested in taking revenge against the previous administration. I don’t think they know how to conduct themselves as a government and to send the right message to the people. We don’t even see Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad actively pushing to fulfil PH’s campaign promises.

“Dr Mahathir even said the electoral pledges were more of a guideline. We can see that they could not fulfil their 100-day promises and are only doing superficial work to promote themselves,” Liow said.

The former transport minister said the new government is ruining the economy and straining bilateral ties with other countries, thanks to Dr Mahathir’s fondness for straying from international norms.

Liow singled out the review of China-backed multi-billion-ringgit projects as affecting bilateral ties.

Dr Mahathir is also making a U-turn on a railway project, mooted during his first stint in office, connecting Kunming, China and Singapore, going through Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Malaysia, which is expected to bring much economic development to Malaysia, he said.

The East Coast Railway Link (ECRL) was to be part of the Kunming railway project.

“The ECRL was to streamline our railways with those in Thailand and this will connect all the way to Kunming. The previous government’s collaboration with China to build the ECRL was the fulfilment of a target set 20 years ago,” Liow said, adding that the PH government’s hostility towards ECRL could jeopardise the Kunming project.

The suspension of MRT3 and the downsizing of LRT3 will also further strain the road networks at the expense of economic development.

“I agree with investigating the high costs, but did the new government also come up with new solutions to solve our traffic situation? These ad hoc fixes and shelving projects are the wrong way to go,” Liow said.

The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail – also under review – is another project which would have benefitted Malaysia greatly because its southern neighbour is an economic powerhouse, he added. – August 17, 2018.