Harapan’s Kamikaze Mission!

The drama over DAP leaving or staying with the government (DAPexit or DAPstay) doesn’t really matter, because the BN-PAS Malay tsunami may sweep the next elections. That’s why Pakatan Harapan should go all out on a final kamikaze mission to deliver reforms. 

PMX’s biggest promise was to crack down on corruption. Yet a Malaysian pilot could carry 26kg of drugs through KLIA and somehow the security people “didn’t see” it. The drug case proves Tourism Minister was right. He did a spot check at KLIA after tourists complained they were being extorted by rogue immigration officials in June 2023. He said there was a chronic “culture of corruption” there. Ten tourism and retail associations lauded the Minister for going on the ground to obtain first-hand information on the problems facing tourists at KLIA.

 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org 

But a rabble-rouser slammed the Minister, saying he had no right to enter KLIA and reveal alleged wrongdoings.  

Some sign of a spine growing was the release of the Tabung Haji royal commission report after being backstabbed in two recent state elections. So, what are the reforms for Harapan’s final kamikaze mission? 

1) Local council elections

This is what affects urban dwellers’ everyday lives - be it garbage collection, potholes, the butchering of trees, or the killing of stray dogs. 

But some politicians have been screaming that this will give power to non-Malays, even though many cities now have Malay majorities. Not just Alor Setar, Kuantan, Shah Alam, and Kota Bharu, but also Kuala Lumpur. 

The truth is, all politicians want to keep control over rich cities, with lucrative planning permissions and contracts. But now that Harapan looks set to lose, please forget about such narrow interests. 

2) Reduce soaring medical insurance costs

This is the biggest concern of middle-class urban Harapan supporters. Control the profits of private hospitals and insurance companies, or create a good, affordable Madani health insurance. 

3) Allow refugees to work

Imagine hiring a maid without having to pay RM20,000 to crony agents to import them from overseas. Apart from families, small businesses will also rejoice. Refugees are already in this country, so why not allow them to work? The current system forces them into semi-legal sources of income and creates social backlash. 

4) Reform elections

Redraw boundaries to create more mixed-race seats to reduce toxic racial politics. Politicians must then appeal to all races. 

This can be done with a simple majority in Parliament if the number of seats is not increased. Johor Amanah deputy chief had also pointed out that it’s unfair that urban votes are much less valuable compared to votes in smaller rural seats. To further reduce racial politicking, state seats can also be added in Penang and Selangor.  

5) Fight corruption quickly

One of our open secrets is that some officials are clearly living beyond their means. If PMX is sincere about cracking down on corruption, he must pass a UWL or “Unexplained Wealth Law”. So, if a civil servant earning RM7,000 monthly has three bungalows and five luxury cars, they can be quickly seized if he can’t explain how he could afford them. There’s no need for court cases dragging on for years. 

Other reforms to consider

- Pass a Racial Harmony law to stop the endless poisonous politicking.

- Set up a National Ombudsman to resolve complaints against civil servants.

- Recognise the Unified Examination Certificate as Penang, Selangor, Sabah, and Sarawak already do.

- Free the MACC and public prosecutor from political control.

- Ensure fair, equal funding even for opposition MPs. 

Even if Harapan loses power in Putrajaya, it’s time to throw away narrow political calculations and do what’s right! Who knows, if PH can show voters what a great job they have done, PH may even score a last-minute goal and pull off an injury-time victory! 

Reference:

Comment: Harapan’s final kamikaze mission before losing, Andrew Sia, Malaysiakini,
17 August 2026