A balanced take on the government performance ratings debate

Recent assessments of the Madani government’s performance have sparked intense debate across Malaysia’s political landscape, with civil society organization Bersih awarding a ‘D’ grade while Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar issued a failing mark. However, a closer examination of the historical context and actual achievements presents a more nuanced picture.

The Grading Controversy

Bersih, known for its advocacy of clean governance and electoral reform, recently evaluated the Madani administration’s first year in office. Their ‘D’ grade primarily focused on institutional reforms and electoral promises, citing concerns about the pace of implementation. Meanwhile, the Terengganu MB’s failing grade reflected opposition sentiment, particularly regarding economic management and federal-state relations.

However, when comparing the current administration’s first-year performance with its predecessors, some interesting patterns emerge.

Looking back at Malaysia’s previous four Prime Ministers, each faced unique challenges during their initial year:

The four Prime Ministers

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad (2018-2020):

• Inherited RM1 trillion national debt

• Political instability within Pakatan Harapan

• Unfulfilled promises from manifesto

• 22-month tenure ended in political crisis

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (2020-2021):

• COVID-19 pandemic management

• Economic downturn

• Political legitimacy questions

• 17-month tenure

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri (2021-2022):

• Post-pandemic recovery challenges

• Continued political instability

• 14-month tenure

Current Madani Government (2022-present):

• Global economic uncertainties

• Coalition management

• Institutional reforms

• Stable majority through unity government

Measuring Progress

This administration might be doing better than the “D” grade suggested in some areas, but they’re still far from earning top marks.

While critics focus on perceived shortcomings, the Madani government has achieved several notable milestones:

The government has been busy with reforms – you’ve got to give them that. On the reform front, the government has made notable strides in addressing long-standing issues. The amendments to citizenship laws, particularly benefiting Malaysian mothers with overseas-born children, marked a significant step forward.and there’s been some progress in making MACC more independent. The judiciary has seen positive developments, with steps taken to enhance independence and transparency. However, some observers note that deeper structural reforms are still pending. 

The government’s commitment to institutional reforms has received cautious approval from international observers. They’ve also started changing on creating so many check and balance committee and giving Parliament more teeth. These changes look good on paper, but many Malaysians are wondering when they’ll feel the real impact.

When it comes to helping people directly, the government has expanded welfare programs and thrown in some cost-of-living aid. It’s a bit like putting a Band-Aid on a deeper wound, though – helpful for now, but not quite solving the underlying problems.

The opposition isn’t buying what the government’s selling. They say these reforms are just surface-level changes, and people’s lives aren’t actually getting better. The government’s response? “Hey, we inherited a mess, and these things take time to fix.”

The international score card

Looking at the international scorecards, Malaysia’s showing some improvement in governance, but we’re still playing catch-up with our neighbours. The MACC is solving more cases, which is good news, but our corruption perception ranking has only inched up slightly.

Public opinion is split down the middle. Some see progress, others see promises without delivery. The recent drama in Terengganu, where civil servants didn’t get their bonuses, didn’t help the government’s image either.

Compared to previous administrations, this government seems to be trying different approaches, but they’re facing many of the same old challenges. They’ve made some reforms that earlier governments wouldn’t touch, but the fundamental issues – cost of living, economic opportunities, and institutional effectiveness – remain works in progress.

The verdict? This administration might be doing better than the “D” grade suggestedin some areas, but they’re still far from earning top marks. They’ve laid some groundwork for change, but Malaysians are still waiting to see if these foundations will support the house they’ve been promised.

After all, in Malaysian politics, as in life, it’s not just about making changes – it’s about making changes that actually improve people’s lives. So far, the jury’s still out on whether this government can deliver on that front.

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