PAS strategist Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki should be commending reforms measures and investigations initiated by the Pakatan Harapan administration instead of condemning it, said his Bersatu counterpart Rais Hussin. 

Rais told Malaysiakini that Zuhdi's claim that the new government was in "disarray" for failing to produce a full cabinet line up was "shameful" as Zuhdi had failed to evaluate the immediate policy measures that have been implemented.

Among the new measures, Rais said, were the Harapan government's move to immediately form special councils on economic affairs so as to stabilise the markets post-government transition, and its decision to reduce the goods and services tax (GST) to zero percent come June 1.

Putrajaya was also moving quickly to trim fat, recover assets linked to 1MDB and initiating efforts to improve broadband affordability and speed.

"How can a government which is in 'disarray' make these kinds of decisions quickly and way ahead of the timeline given in our promises in our manifesto?

"This is a big problem, that Zuhdi is incapable of understanding the dynamics of what Pakatan Harapan really is. 

"It (Harapan) is dictated by the people's interest, not dictated by some leaders' or parties," Rais said. 

He added that Zuhdi's complaints about cabinet appointments were invalid because there were already 15 cabinet members that were sworn in. 

He told Malaysiakini: "What is more important? Is it filling the cabinet positions or attending to the manifesto for the people's interest? 

"We chose the latter, that is to focus on what people want and we need to alleviate their sufferings and so on."

On Zuhdi's complaints about Harapan's apparent "populist" attempts to punish the past administration, Rais said the coalition had, prior to the election, pledged to probe 1MDB, Felda and Tabung Haji, among others.

He said Harapan needed to recover money fast and this could only be done by initiating investigations. 

"Why is Zuhdi taking an exception to the follow up on these mega-scandals such as 1MDB, Tabung Haji and Felda? 

"This is not about being populist, this is about recovering money that has been stolen from the people. 

"Isn't this what any decent and credible government would do?" he asked.