COMMENT | The year 2026 is, by and large, the fourth year of the 15th Parliament, which started on Dec 19, 2022, and of the Madani government, which started on Nov 24, 2022.

This leaves Malaysia less than 24 months to achieve whatever institutional reforms in the 15th Parliament and the Madani government, even if they serve their full term till Dec 18, 2027.

Unfortunately, reforms have often become the subject of intensive fearmongering, smearing, and even ethno-religious demonisation, resulting in many reforms being either abandoned or watered down, when reasonable win-win solutions could have been sought.

Abandoning reforms not only causes the public to distrust parties and political leaders in power. It would likely also...