A nine-month period is too short for the people to judge the performance of the new government under Pakatan Harapan as it is a phase for the party to conduct housekeeping on what was left by the previous government.

Deputy Finance Minister Amiruddin Hamzah (photo) said that, although the period was brief, the government had taken numerous initiatives to ensure the needs and interests of the people were looked after, including taking over concessions and doing away with tolls in stages.

‘’The nine-month period is like a pregnancy which is about due. We started with a piece of white paper or white cloth but entered a topsy-turvy scenario so we have to conduct housekeeping and this takes time.

‘’Now we have (done housekeeping) and are making changes. Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, too, is very concerned about all the promises in the manifesto and a special committee to look at its implementation has also been set up,’’ he told reporters in Jitra today.

Earlier, he attended a 'transformation and charity aid tour programme' and gotong-royong at Kampung Pantai Halban.

Meanwhile, asked to comment on a statement by independent research body Ilham Centre yesterday that BN could defeat Harapan in the Semenyih by-election, he hoped voters could make an accurate choice.

He hoped voters in Semenyih could evaluate and give the mandate to Harapan to continue heading the constituency as they stood to benefit since the ruling government was also Harapan.

The polling for the by-election, which started today, saw a four-cornered fight involving Muhammad Aiman Zainali from Harapan, Zakaria Hanafi (BN), Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul (PSM) and independent candidate, Kuan Chee Heng.

- Bernama