Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (June 29): The new government could do better by communicating more effectively with all stakeholders when forming policies, conceded a Pakatan Harapan Member of Parliament today.

Speaking at a forum here today, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil said that the government has to accept "expectations of Malaysians that there is more than one way" to resolve key issues such as rising cost of living and the oversupply of foreign workers in the country.

"The question is how as we really grow into governing, that we don't make such mistakes [of jumping the gun on policies].

"I feel that some of it has to do with internal calibration in terms of how we put together our political message, whether it is on the GST (goods and services tax) or the economy [in general]," said Fahmi.

Fahmi was responding to allegations by industry players about how certain Ministers have made statements that have implications on businesses prior to consultation with stakeholders, only to revert the stance soon after.

This includes the announcement on the possible dissolution of the Human Resource Development Fund, as well as the suggested replacement of foreign cooks in local restaurants beginning Jan 1, 2019.

Fahmi cited an example of how Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad accepted the views of the public vide social media over his earlier intention to take on the position of Education Minister, which goes against the Pakatan Harapan electoral promise that no one should hold two Ministerial portfolios at once.

"What we understood to be the [practice of] political gatekeepers before, who would only tell their political masters what they want to hear — those days are over.

"Today, we open up [to suggestions]. The political leaders do take note on your response," he said, adding that disruption via information technology such as social media could provide some checks and balances.

Malaysia witnessed a change in Federal government for the first time since its inception after the surprise victory of Pakatan Harapan against Barisan Nasional in the recent 14th general election.

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