COMMENT | 2020: No silver lining to a turbulent year
COMMENT | The curtains will finally close on 2020. As we welcome the new year, it would be pertinent for us to reflect on the year that has come to pass.
While 2019 was a year of disappointments for many, especially when it came to the ‘New Malaysia’ project that the nation embarked upon in 2018, it was still a year that came with a lot of promise and potential. The then Pakatan Harapan government had made some progress when it came to reforms, albeit at a slower pace than what many would like.
The University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) was amended to allow for political parties to operate in institutions of higher learning.
The Anti-Fake News Act was finally abolished after the bill was passed by both Houses at the end of that year.
Amendments were made to the Peaceful Assembly Act which, amongst others, allow for street protests and shortened the time required to provide for notice for an assembly. The Act was also amended to allow for offences to be compounded...
COMMENT | The curtains will finally close on 2020. As we welcome the new year, it would be pertinent for us to reflect on the year that has come to pass.
While 2019 was a year of disappointments for many, especially when it came to the ‘New Malaysia’ project that the nation embarked upon in 2018, it was still a year that came with a lot of promise and potential. The then Pakatan Harapan government had made some progress when it came to reforms, albeit at a slower pace than what many would like.
The University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) was amended to allow for political parties to operate in institutions of higher learning.
The Anti-Fake News Act was finally abolished after the bill was passed by both Houses at the end of that year.
Amendments were made to the Peaceful Assembly Act which, amongst others, allow for street protests and shortened the time required to provide for notice for an assembly. The Act was also amended to allow for offences to be compounded.
Both Houses of Parliament also passed resolutions to compel federal lawmakers to declare their assets. All members of the executive, as well as backbenchers, have already done so and their assets and income are now publicly accessible.
The most significant reform in 2019 was the historic constitutional amendment to lower the voting age, allowing 18-year-olds to stand for elections and to allow the Elections Commission to implement automatic voting.
Some other reforms were due to take place in 2020, including the much-awaited Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC). The bill went through a Special Select Committee comprising of members of parliament, and they obtained feedback and held consultations with various stakeholders.
Many also expected that by the end of 2020, we would see the transition which was promised, in which the then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad would hand over the premiership to Harapan leader Anwar Ibrahim.
No transition but a new PM nevertheless
Then, the Sheraton Move happened. We did have a new prime minister, but it was not who many expected. In that fateful week at the end of February, the political landscape changed, possibly forever.
The Harapan government was replaced with a loose coalition of political parties known as the Perikatan Nasional (PN). When PN swept into power, the hopes that many had for ongoing reforms dissipated, to be replaced with anger and frustration that the government they voted is now no longer in Putrajaya.
In 2020, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had to spend considerable time, effort and political capital to stave off the threat of being replaced by his own political allies.
2020 saw many states changing governments, as well as changing menteri besars and chief ministers. In Sabah, state-wide elections took place and the two-year-old Warisan Plus government was replaced by a new government.
The nation was also pushed to the brink of the abyss when the prime minister requested for a nationwide emergency. It took the wisdom and foresight of the Malay rulers to deny this request and prevent the nation from plunging into deeper turmoil.
Indeed, 2020 has been a turbulent year for politics. With Covid-19 still raging, coupled with the political turmoil that we face, means that we face an uncertain year in 2021.
Yet, if there is one thing that Malaysians have shown in 2020 is that we do not lack tenacity and perseverance. Malaysians have carried on living through this tumultuous year and have not resorted to violence or civil unrest.
This is testament to the maturity of Malaysians. Whatever happens in 2021 and beyond, we have shown that we will keep calm and carry on.
SYAHREDZAN JOHAN is a civil liberties lawyer and political secretary to Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
