LETTER | Analysis, plaudits and recriminations have followed the results of the Sungai Bakap by-election.

As much as Perikatan Nasional won the seat during the last state election, the relatively newly formed coalition government should have started as a favourite to wrest the seat back from the opposition alliance. The advantage of being a new government with a reform mandate somehow did not resonate with the electorate.

The most unfortunate part in the aftermath of the election is that the analysis seems to be made mainly along racial lines. The stereotyping of Malaysians along racial lines is embarrassing.

All parties are responsible for this, and it is especially disappointing that those in the Madani government are spewing out the same garbage.

There are undeniably political realities and race is a factor that cannot be ignored. More importantly, it is critical to assess factors such as the frustrations of the rural poor and the working poor, and how they feel about whether government policies have been able to assist them in alleviating their hardship.

Government policies have been favouring big business for too long. The downstream impact of it has been felt most acutely by the poor, and the problem is only getting worse.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has asked for more time to address the issues afflicting the people. This is understandable given the malaise he inherited. Nevertheless, the people especially the poor are in dire straits. Their trust and patience in the government and the reform agenda will not stretch on for too long.

The Prime Minister should also examine how his coalition serves his reform agenda. The likes of the DAP have done well to secure the seats they are holding for now but have not contributed to the wider interest of the coalition government. They are actually a liability to Pakatan Harapan spreading its wings towards creating an inclusive Malaysia.

Time is not on the side of the new government. It is either a case of some drastic changes being made in the short term and the fruit of it being seen by the public before the next general elections or being content with being a one-term government.

Writer is the international labour adviser for Social Protection Contributors Advisory Association Malaysia.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.