COMMENT | It was early 2020 and a friend was whining about the last Pakatan Harapan-led government, saying that it was not moving fast enough on reforms.

Not being aware of the workings of a government, she also went on to criticise the administration for every flaw in the country whereas in many cases the bureaucracy or appointed cronies running things had not changed.

“Be careful what you wish for, as the next government could easily be much worse,” I told her, not really being in the mood to explain.

This was partly because I had been forewarned by Harapan sources of discontent and a possible move against the government.

After all, the prime minister of the time was seeking to replace his own coalition with a unity government - seemingly so that he would not have to hand over power to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, as promised.

As it turned out...