Malaysia today: Assessing three years of change, challenges and missed opportunities

M Santhananaban

Three years ago, the people of Malaysia were energised and enthusiastic about a new prime minister.

Anwar Ibrahim assumed office three months after former Prime Minister Najib Razak started his prison sentence.

The air was thick with promise. The country then had a notably courageous and consummate chief justice in office. Today many miss Tengku Tun Maimun Tuan Mat, who has had to retire.

Many also miss two key ministers – Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad – who were integral components of Anwar’s initial success. They left the cabinet following their defeats in the PKR party elections earlier this year.

Yet nothing has been more lamentable than the far-too-many ‘DNAAs’ (discharges not amount to an acquittal) in court cases involving political office holders over the last three years.

The positive thing is that people continue to enjoy peace. But the putrid polemics within the political leadership is unprecedented, unfathomable and unsettling.

Meanwhile, Sarawak has emerged as a bright, stable and well-nurtured economic powerhouse with widely admired leadership and much promise.

Sabah’s political direction remains uncertain.

Apart from Penang, Selangor and Johor, the other states in the peninsula seem somewhat lacklustre. The Pas-run states are in a time warp. 

There are deepest concerns about the education system, partly due to the quality of the country’s teachers and the overemphasis on religious subjects.

Malaysia clearly needs to upscale and upgrade its skill sets to become more efficient and competitive. The country’s overreliance on foreign workers should also be a concern.

In the media landscape, at least, there are a few bright spots: the impressive roles of BFM radio, Aliran, The Edge, Malaysiakini and Free Malaysia Today stand out. 

But the nation is more glued to social media than ever before, and some people have been taken for a ride with fake news, scams and propaganda. 

Ordinary people have to remain alert to safeguard the peace, mutual trust, confidence and prosperity of the nation.

Dato’ M Santhananaban is a retired ambassador with 45 years of public sector experience.