LETTER | BN’s manifesto reflects how Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak does not value institutional reforms. It is also a stark evidence of his belief that "cash is king".

Structural reforms to our august institutions are far more essential for the future of our country. Both the World Bank and IMF (International Monetary Fund) have stated that it is extremely important for Malaysia to improve governance and reduce the inappropriate involvement of the government in the exploiting our economy.

True reform begins with improving our administrative institutions so that we can prioritise the integrity of our laws. The rampant corruption and leakages we face today can only be fixed if key institutions like the judiciary, the MACC, the legal services, the investigating agencies, and many more, are improved.

Pakatan Harapan has prioritised institutional governance as one of the key components of our manifesto. We have made multiple pledges that are aimed at reforming and strengthening the key institutions in our country such as the MACC, the Attorney-General’s Office, the judiciary, the police, the military, the Election Commission and even the local authorities. We are aware of the importance of sound economic and welfare policies. But the difference between us and Najib is that we believe fair and equitable economic growth is only sustainable if our nation's institutions are also sound.

Despite the misuse of mainstream media and the utilisation of government channels for party matters, the substance of BN’s manifesto is a disappointment. It contains more of the same: the giving away of handouts in the hope that the rakyat will forget about the mega scandals surrounding Najib and his henchmen. The amount of money being dished out to help individual citizens are minuscule compared to the amount that has been squandered.

The BN manifesto is yet another evidence of how Umno and BN have lost their way. Today, they are nothing but a platform to ensure Najib will stay in power by preventing any serious institutional reform from happening. This is understandable because any real reform will probably end up sending some of the top leaders of Umno today to prison.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.