Report card on Harapan shows 'unrealistic goals' in manifesto

The government has set a list of unrealistic goals and showcased a lack political will to fulfil other achievable promises made in the Buku Harapan GE14 election manifesto, according to the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas).

Ideas research director Laurence Todd (photo, above) said the think-tank's ongoing Projek Pantau monitoring of 244 selected sub-promises found little progress made to about 30 percent of the "unrealistic goals" set in areas of education, institutional reforms and the economy.

"One of their (Harapan's) promises is to reduce the pressures causing burdensome price increases. When Harapan first came to power, prices dropped due to the tax holiday but when the sales and service tax (SST) came in, the prices increased again and stabilised.

"We also find that developing one million affordable homes in 10 years to be unrealistic," Todd said at the launch of Ideas' second bi-annual Projek Pantau report card in Kuala Lumpur.

He pointed out that the government has so far constructed about 35,000 affordable homes through its National Housing Policy, far below the 100,000 units needed to achieve its overall target of one million units in 10 years.

"The same goes with abolishing PTPTN loans.

"Honouring the letter of the promise with respect to PTPTN is an unrealistic ambition," he said, in reference to the initial promise of deferring PTPTN payments for those earning below RM4,000.

After one year in power, Todd said the government should look into recalibrating some of its more unrealistic promises to reach achievable compromise for the people.

PTPTN currently owes RM40 billion of government-guaranteed debt, which is projected to increase to RM76 billion in 20 years.

In terms of the lack of political will, Todd highlighted promises made in areas of institutional reforms, including abolishing oppressive laws such as the Officials Secrets Act.

"To increase the governance of GLCs to international standards, cut down on the use of oppressive laws in the true spirit of federalism.

"These are the things we think are achievable by the government but then it doesn't want to do it," he said.

As part of the committee that drafted the Buku Harapan, International Trade and Investment Deputy Minister Ong Kian Ming (photo) in his speech later admitted that there were certain promises, including on the PTPTN loan deferment, made without having a full picture of their feasibility.

He also noted that political realities had forced Harapan to backtrack on certain promises that touch on issues of race and religion.

"Of course, all of you are aware of the kind of pushback that occurred, epecially on ratifying UN conventions.

"This is the larger political reality; forces against us use race and religion to attack the government," he said, alluding to public outcry over ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) which the government was eventually forced to withdraw.

Aside from areas for improvements, the Ideas report card pointed out that the government has delivered a range of promises intended to address the cost of living and enhance the income of the majority.

Among others, it noted that the minimum wage in Sabah and Sarawak has been raised to be equal to that in the peninsula. - Mkini