LETTER | In recent months, I wonder if there is still a viable and functioning government in Malaysia – a government that is able to formulate policies and programmes for the short-, medium- and long-term good of this country. 

I wonder if there is still a government that is concerned with governance, public goods and prudential use of government resources.

Instead, everything appears to be in shambles. At the worst of times, Malaysia had never gone through a government like this before where the main focus of our leaders are fixated at politicking and sustaining their own survival while the country, already saddled with the onslaught of Covid19 pandemic, is left to linger.

For how long more are politicians going to keep this country in limbo? There is no visible urgency shown in resolving the problems faced by the nation. There is no visible change in government priority and direction.

Government spending on pomp and pleasantries is still going on as usual despite the deficit and public debts going to the roof. Tell me who in government is “suffering” today?

In the meantime, two states within the federation, Kedah and Penang, are left to sweat it out over a few million ringgit of water supply payment from one state to another. To me, this is not just a state matter. 

The federal government collecting taxes and revenues from all states must do the necessary to rectify the situation. A federation of states cannot survive if the federal government is unwilling or unable to play its refereeing role fairly and effectively.

Then we have GLCs that operate like a vacuum machine of government resources. Before we could resolve one problem, another one emerged. 

Throwing more money at GLCs will solve nothing when the problems are essentially due to integrity and business model.

Let’s not be hypocritical; the government cannot or does not know how to do business. Everything it touches has turned into mud so far.

While the government lavishly allocates and spends money on GLCs, our small businesses and SMEs are left to fend on their own. 

Many of them have gone belly-up by the day and yet the government has the audacity to discuss yet another rescue package for another GLC on the verge of collapse due to its endless baloney.

All this may sound obvious but I believe there is a tipping point beyond which the nation may face irreparable damage.

Many in government think the government is invincible. They think the government can do anything and get away with it and this includes someone boldly suggesting we print more money!

There will be a day of reckoning if we continue with our wayward way.