Flip-flops and roundabouts: PN MP pans govt's policy announcement

PARLIAMENT | Another opposition lawmaker has hit out at the government’s perceived lack of proper planning before announcing major policy changes, including under Budget 2025.

Debating the Supply Bill 2025, Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (PN-Putrajaya) said a lack of prior engagement, including with the opposition, has resulted in not only “flip-flopping” policies, but worse, a “roundabout” that confuses the public.

“The main weakness of the government today is that they still think like an opposition, not like a government.

“When thinking like the opposition, as they did in the past, all sorts of promises can be made, and all sorts of things promised, but in the end, nothing gets done. This behaviour has carried over into the implementation of government policies, and this is dangerous for the people.

“That’s why I urge the government to end this confusion in policy. I don’t understand why they keep announcing uncertain things with such enthusiasm. This isn’t just flip-flopping, it’s a roundabout, going in circles over the same thing,” Radzi (above) lamented.

The former education minister also highlighted the contradictions within government statements regarding socio-economic classifications among the public.

He referenced Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Budget 2025 speech on Oct 18, in which it was announced that the T15 group would not receive fuel or full education subsidies.

Confusing process

However, Radzi pointed out that no clear explanation was provided regarding the definition of the T15 group, leaving fellow MPs and the public to interpret it based on household income data released by the Statistics Department.

“Then, on Oct 20, the economy minister stated that he did not think the government would use the current household income data to define the group.

“He doesn’t think? When running a country, as the government, (you) cannot be based on mere assumptions or indecision. You cannot run things by just saying, ‘We feel, we think, we will see’.

“This matter has been announced to the public, which is why we say the process is too confusing. Then, when questions were raised to the prime minister regarding hardcore poverty, things became more complex,” he admonished.

READ MORE: Budget 2025 visualised

Radzi recalled Anwar's speech on Tuesday (Oct 22) when addressing the issues of hardcore poverty.

“The prime minister mentioned that the government had changed its approach to defining the hardcore poor by referring to per capita household income - meaning total household income divided by the number of household members.

“This is something different again. Per capita, income is now based on total household income divided by the number of household members. I’m presenting this to the public so we can all see how disorganised the government’s policymaking is,” Radzi said.

COMMENT | Budget reforms welcomed but procurement remains a concern

Budget 2025 shows consistency but more needed, says economist

Whole Budget 2025 text open for debate, including house arrest bill, Ramli says

Budget 2025 reactions from ministers, state govts