Ph Mid Term Report Card Failed In All Subjects

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(NW) – When the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition returned to power in 2022 under the “unity government” banner, many Malaysians were cautiously hopeful. After the political turbulence that followed the 2018 elections and the Sheraton Move, the PH-led administration—this time under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim—was seen as a possible path back to political stability and reform. But fast forward to 2025, and the report card for PH reads like a student who not only failed every subject but also broke the school rules and blamed everyone else for it.
Judicial Independence: Repeating Past Mistakes
Perhaps the most damning failure lies in the erosion of judicial independence. In the early days of the Anwar administration, there was talk of reforming institutions, strengthening the rule of law, and respecting the judiciary. But what the public witnessed was quite the opposite. The discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) granted to Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi—who was facing 47 charges of corruption—triggered outrage, not just from civil society but from legal experts and even former judges.
The retirement of Chief Justice Tun Maimun Tuan Mat with out the conventional six-month extension the marked the end of a brief yet resolute era—an era in which the judiciary dared to stand tall, even as the political winds howled against it. A vacuum in the judiciary was the subject for a call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to “look into the “crisis” in the judiciary, which will see a large number of senior members exiting within a few months, said Rafizi Ramli, former Economy Minister and PKR Deputy President.
He and eight other senior PKR MPs would officially file a request for the proceedings and investigations to be conducted by the Human Rights, Election and Institutional Reform special select committee.
When lawyers and judges began to raise concern, the government’s response was not introspection but intimidation. The Malaysian Bar was hauled to court for its walk of protest. The Chief Justice was noticeably absent from key events at that time. And a chilling message was sent to the judiciary: toe the line, or else. For a government that once campaigned on judicial integrity, this betrayal is not just hypocrisy—it is political vandalism. PH, which once promised to be the guardian of institutional reform, is now the prime suspect in its slow assassination.
SST Reloaded
Another subject in which the PH government flunked spectacularly is economic policy. The reintroduction and expansion of the Sales and Services Tax (SST) of between 6% to 8% on July 1 2025 was justified as necessary for increasing national revenue. But the reality felt by ordinary Malaysians is starkly different: it has become a punishing burden, particularly for the B40 and M40 income groups already struggling with stagnant wages and rising living costs.
Instead of designing a fair and progressive tax structure, the government chose the easy route of taxing consumption. Even essential services were not spared, including telecommunications and streaming platforms—services many use daily. Worse, it was imposed amid a weakening ringgit and surging inflation, compounding the cost-of-living crisis. Far from being “Madani” (civil and compassionate), this economic strategy has been deaf and blind to the people’s real struggles.
Trump’s 25% Tariff: Diplomacy Gone Wrong
The result? Not only did they return empty-handed, but the tariff list was expanded to include sectors critical to Malaysia’s economy. PH’s foreign policy, it seems, is long on photo-ops but short on results. The mishandling of the US-Malaysia economic relationship underscores a deeper malaise: the absence of strategic diplomacy, foresight, and bargaining power. How can a government that claims to be restoring Malaysia’s global standing be so dramatically outplayed on the world stage?
Madani in Denial
PH’s 2025 report card paints a grim picture: judicial interference, regressive taxation, and foreign policy blunders. What’s more disturbing is the government’s tendency to deflect criticism rather than take responsibility. Ministers blame the global economy, the previous administration, or even the public itself for not being “grateful.” Meanwhile, the rakyat sees promises broken, accountability eroded, and hope dimmed.
Pakatan Harapan once stood as a symbol of change. But today, it has become the very thing it once vowed to replace. Unless a serious course correction is made, the coalition will not just fail in governance—it will fail history. And this time, the Rakyat may not be as forgiving.
The post PH Mid Term Report Card: Failed in All Subjects appeared first on Malaysia Today.

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