QUESTION TIME | After over eight months in power, the Pakatan Harapan government regretfully does not have a solid plan for the economy and the country, reneging on a number of key promises that it made pre-elections and allowing the creeping in of patronage and other bad practices within the coalition.

It has also been inordinately preoccupied with blaming the previous government for all the ills facing the country and is guilty of painting an economic picture worse than what it really is, thereby eroding confidence in business and the economy.

By now, they should have at least come up with a comprehensive plan to put the country firmly back on the path to higher growth and to ensure that the increased wealth is shared more equitably among all peoples and all races.

If the income gap between the rich and poor is narrowed irrespective of who is poor or rich, then inevitably the gap between the races will narrow too. Instead, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad still talks about distribution of wealth instead of growing incomes and giving everyone a fair share of incomes, the only way wealth inequality can be narrowed.

The other leaders of Harapan are culpable as well as they have demonstrated no way or will to change these outmoded policies of the past and put in place measures that will help all in the nation and actualise the promises they made in their campaign manifesto.

If Harapan leaders need reminding of what should be done - some do and some don’t - below are 10 basics which will apply equally well to any country anywhere in the world, rich or poor, which wants to improve the livelihood of all its citizens...