En route to land of revolutions, MP reflects on Madani reform stagnation

Summary

• Subang MP Wong Chen worries that the government is too slow in delivering reforms.

• He says MPs must push the government harder to achieve its reform agenda.

Subang MP Wong Chen is reflecting on the Madani government's reform efforts, and the seeming lack thereof.

The pondering came before departing on a family holiday to France - a country shaped by centuries of revolution and citizen-led change.

"I am looking forward to spending quality time with the kids, resting and contemplating my future in politics.

"So much time (15 years) and effort have been spent getting into power, but now, I can't help but feel a deep worry that we have so few reforms to show.

"I know we can achieve more reforms and the only way to do this is we, the MPs, must push the government harder from the backbench," the PKR MP said in a Facebook post yesterday.

Wong's (above) remarks came as the Madani administration - led by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim - crosses the halfway mark of its five-year term in power.

Despite being led by a pro-reform party, the coalition government has been accused of dragging its feet and, at times, even backtracking on promises of progress.

Among the reforms still ostensibly "under study" are term limits for the prime minister, separating the attorney-general and public prosecutor roles, and introducing a political financing act.

Another promise yet to be fulfilled is having MACC chief commissioner candidates vetted by a bipartisan parliamentary committee.

Instead, Anwar has extended controversial MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki's contract three times past retirement - justifying it by saying that the latter is the only individual bold enough to go after corrupt individuals in high places.

This is despite objections, including from his own daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar.

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