By : Aidalina Mahili

‘Leadership must be demonstrated not announced’; and the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PMX) has best accomplished this attribute when he was passed down a nascent administration ravaged by prolonged political instability and the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his first 100 days, he demonstrated the actions to restore some political stability to the fledgling government and designed measures to help economic recovery, especially among vulnerable people who have yet to get back on their feet after the country is in crisis.

The country faced an intense period of balancing the needs of implementation. The 15th General Election (GE15) resulted in a grand-coalition government comprised of former arch-rivals, nonetheless the Unity Government marked a significant turning point in the nation's political landscape.

The Unity Government has brought together various political parties, promoting unity among diverse communities. The government comprises representatives from different parties, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and collaboration. Critics of the Unity Government argue that it lacks a clear mandate from the electorate and undermines democratic principles. Some opposition parties claim that the government’s formation was an opportunistic move, driven by political interests, rather than the will of the people. Recent assessments of public opinion regarding the Unity Government may have shown mixed results. While some surveys indicate a level of support for the government's efforts to promote unity and stability, others suggest that the public is sceptical about the long-term sustainability of the arrangement.

Which brought our attention to the recently conducted poll, by EndeavourMGC, which polled 1,068 Malay voters from June 12 to June 18 titled “Selangor Malay Only Public Opinion Survey” where Malay voters polled in a survey saw 63 per cent of them saying they feel their rights are being threatened, while 87 per cent said they did not know of the government's measures to bring down the cost of living.

The result also indicated that more than half of Malaysian voters chose either the rival Pakatan Harapan (PH) or the Perikatan National (PN) coalition as the party to vote for in the Selangor state elections come August 12. The poll results that PH and BN, which are expected to work together, have a joint approval rating of 57 per cent. The same survey, which found that 61 per cent of the 1,068 Selangor Malay voters polled will vote based on the party, 28 per cent will consider the candidate, while other factors are religion (7%), economy (3%) and race (1%). None of the Malay voters polled mentioned corruption or democratic values as important factors they would consider when casting their votes. The result also accounted 68 per cent polled were satisfied with the current Selangor state government's performance, while 31 per cent were dissatisfied, while one per cent with no opinion. Selangor reportedly has 1.9 million Malay voters.

Recent polls reveal varying levels of support for the unity government. Although some polls suggest that a sizeable portion of the population remains uncertain or critical of the deal, a sizeable majority recognises the government's efforts to promote unity and stability.

Some polls suggest that one of the criticisms of the unified government is that it is perceived as a failure in the cognitive war. Critics say the government's public relations efforts fall short compared to the concerted efforts of those who want it to fail. To combat this, governments need to invest in effective messaging to ensure their successes and positive outcomes reach wider audiences.

Free available platforms should be fully utilised, especially the social media. Approaches embraced by International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz and former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri where they both made their roles transparent with the almost in-real-time progress report made through their posts on the social media had proven to be working in convincing the public perception of the current government.

Being an ‘influencer’ has to carry a different meaning to our members of the Parliament. Even PMX’s team has built an extensive and positive persona of the prime minister through this social media where sentiments are carefully curated to translate his aspirations and intentions for the rakyat.

The Unity Government's public messaging machinery plays a crucial role in shaping public perception. However, critics contend that the government has struggled to effectively communicate its achievements, resulting in a perceived lack of progress.

To address this, the government must enhance its communication strategies and proactively disseminate information about its accomplishments to the public. Despite numerous achievements and positive outcomes, the Unity Government's successes often go unnoticed by the general public. Efforts must be made to bridge this information gap and ensure that the government's good work reaches the masses. By effectively showcasing their achievements, the Unity Government can provide a fair answer to its critics and garner support from the public.

The Malaysia Unity Government faces both internal and external challenges as it strives to promote unity, stability, and progress. While critics raise concerns about its formation and messaging, the government's actions and policies demonstrate a commitment to addressing critical issues and serving the nation. By effectively communicating their achievements, the Unity Government can bridge the perception gap and build public confidence, paving the way for a balanced and progressive future for Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA

Aidalina Mahili is National Security Analyst.