YOURSAY | ‘Remember, the manifesto is the reason people voted for Harapan.’

Rafidah gives Harapan a lashing: 'Your stupid manifesto stopped you, is it?'

The Wakandan: You’re wrong, former minister Rafidah Aziz. Pakatan Harapan has to be faithful to its election manifesto. Otherwise, why have a manifesto in the first place?

This is why it is not easy to be an honest politician. This is also why so many become no different from minor-level iterations of former premier Najib Abdul Razak.

Unless they have the political will to be honest and truthful, they will always fall back to becoming dirty lying politicians who abuse their power and disappoint the people who elected them.

Think about it. You want sweet talk? Fine. But then, you are no different than those who lied to the people and set the country on the path to destruction.

No one is indispensable, not even Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Being the education minister is not a big deal. The big deal is to be faithful to promises and having the courage to implement them.

The present education minister is a not stupid person per se, but simply an idealist who has an agenda of his own. The reason why he looks stupid is simply because he is not faithful to the manifesto on which he was elected. Comprende?

Hope: Since when is keeping a promise a wrong thing to do? I applaud Mahathir for realising his mistake and removing himself as the education minister.

Let's stop having double standards as BN did. Wrong means wrong, regardless of who did it. On top of that, let us give others a chance to perform. We can't depend on only a few people all the time.

Being Different: Please Rafidah, if we do not stick to the manifesto, it is as good as lying to the people to win votes.

If there is no need to adhere to the manifesto, then they can make all sorts of promises before the election and wash their hands after.

You think the people are going to be quiet this time? Gone are the days where people just take orders.

Mahathir is already carrying a heavy burden as prime minister. I am sure his wife, Siti Hasmah Ali, is more worried than anyone of him handling too many things.

We all know Mahathir is a great leader, but it is time for him to just focus on his present job and put forward his ideas to the education minister. Collective decisions can still be made for the benefit of the rakyat.

Headhunter: One has to agree with the Iron Lady. The manifesto is not cast in stone. If something is better than initially mooted, have the courage to supersede it.

Personally, I think the GST should have been retained but at a reduced rate. Doing away with it didn't result in prices coming down as was anticipated, as we now find out.

And yes, someone like Mahathir would have the determination to make the changes necessary to uplift our education standard which, sad to say, is in doldrums at the moment.

Bbnow: A promise, a manifesto, whatever you call it, is an undertaking. Many voted Harapan because of the manifesto, which gave them insight into what the coalition would do when they are in power.

If you don’t fulfil the promises, then you are just reinforcing the cliché that politicians can’t be trusted. Why must it be like that? Why can’t there be honest politicians?

We teach our children to tell the truth and honour their words, but when it comes to adults and politics, exceptions should be made? It is okay to not honour words in the name of greater good?

So Much Fun: Rafidah is right. The current education minister is a joke. The manifesto is only a guide. As long as the intention is good, why get bogged down with it?

Stand By Truth: I do not agree with Rafidah. A manifesto is a set of promises by which you're held accountable.

For those promises which you genuinely cannot fulfil, the people can give the government the benefit of the doubt. But for promises which you can deliver, you must – for example, the prime minister not holding another portfolio.

If all your promises can be easily reneged on, then you have no integrity at all. And that's the worst.

Clever Voter: The education portfolio is a strategic and important one. Maszlee is an obvious underperformer. He hasn't even settled in, and the first impression he gives is his preference is to hang on to his university job.

Poor fellow, he obviously didn't know the size of the (black) shoes he had to wear. Granted the portfolio is complex and demanding given the racial complications, but Maszlee just appears lost. Lacking the holistic picture, this man has to go soon.

Mahathir may have other priorities, but all previous prime ministers would have been an education minister at some point. That confirms the importance of the portfolio. It is also the main driver of the future.

Rafidah is right. The parochial thinking of Harapan leaders is to be blamed. Too obsessed with trying to be idealistic, they forgot the pragmatism which brought them here in the first place.

At 93, Mahathir would not have the stamina, but he has to find someone real quick. Chances are slim but he has one person to do just that.

Multi Racial: Sorry, I disagree with you Rafidah. There is nothing wrong with the manifesto.

What was wrong is Mahathir appointing the wrong person to be the education minister. There are so many better qualified people to take the position, just choose the best candidate, regardless of race and religion.

Righteousness4All: To myself and most voters, we do not even know what was written in the manifesto. As far as we are concerned, we just voted for change and to remove BN.

In conclusion, it is only the handful of so-called sick politicians that do not even make up of 0.000001 percent of the voters, who have nothing better to talk about than the manifesto. I’m fully behind Rafidah.

I Wonder?: Remember, the manifesto is the reason people voted for Harapan to win the 14th general election.

Kangkung: Nasi sudah menjadi bubur. It is no use crying over spilt milk.

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