Reform Requires More Than Rhetoric It Needs Courage

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 When Azalina Othman Said said that reforms take time, she was right. No one expects institutional reform to happen overnight.
She stressed that policymakers must ensure every reform is not only ambitious but also implementable.
That sentiment is reasonable, but the public is no longer convinced by well-worded statements alone. They want to see results, not just reminders.
Because if the reform agenda is truly alive, it must look the part. It must move. It must deliver.
The Madani government was given a mandate not to maintain the status quo, but to fix what was broken.
Some progress, but not nearly enough
The reform agenda was not an optional add-on; it was the very reason the rakyat gave them power.
And while some effort has been made, the truth is unavoidable. Much of what was promised remains unresolved.
The Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 still stands in its current form. The review of the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009 has not led to substantial structural change.
Term limits for the prime minister have been proposed, but remain on paper. Freedom of information has not materialised.
The abolition of the mandatory death penalty, despite announcements, is not yet complete.
Constituency allocations are still used as political reward and punishment, with opposition MPs left out in the cold.
These are not small matters. These are central to the rakyat’s expectations of real reform.
They reflect whether this government intends to walk the talk. And the people are paying attention.
The government has shown discipline. The prime minister has not interfered in court matters. The legal process has been allowed to run without disruption.
That deserves recognition, but having the right intentions is not enough. Political will must follow.
Time is running short
Azalina is right to caution against premature or unworkable reform. But delay, too, can become a form of failure.
When promises stall without explanation, trust begins to erode. And with each passing day, the window to act grows smaller.
The Madani government still has time, but not unlimited time. Public trust is not a permanent gift. It is a loan, and it must be repaid with results.
A Bersih protest in February 2024, demanding that the government deliver on its reform promisesReform does not demand perfection. It demands courage. The rakyat did not vote for another cautious government. They voted for one that would do what others could not.
It is not enough to say reform is alive. The rakyat must be able to see it, feel it, and believe in it.
Now is the time to prove that those promises were not just campaign lines, but a true commitment to change. - Mkini
MAHATHIR MOHD RAIS is a former Federal Territories Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional secretary.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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