Political analyst Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani expressed concerns that Malaysia’s frequent policy U-turns have eroded public trust in the government and its programmes. This lack of confidence was evident in the low number of registrations for PADU, a central data hub aimed at collecting income data for government subsidies. The original goal of 29 million registrations by March 31 was lowered to 11 million due to slow sign-ups, cybersecurity issues, and a trust deficit. PADU ultimately registered 17.65 million individuals, including children.
Policies like the MyDigital ID under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration have contributed to public perception that there is consistency in policy execution and transparency. U-turns during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as flip-flops in work-from-home guidelines and product sales regulations, have further eroded public confidence, particularly in digitalisation efforts. Professor Said Bani noted that these reversals suggest a reactive approach by the government, leading to questions about coordination and clarity in policymaking processes.
The root cause of policy U-turns, according to experts, lies in a lack of full engagement by policymakers in the design and execution of policies. Dr. Ong highlighted the importance of proof of concepts, pilot projects, and stress testing before implementing policies that impact a large number of users. Asrul Hadi pointed out the failure of Malaysian administrations to effectively translate grand blueprints into actionable plans for civil servants and lack of engagement with industry and the public when implementing policies. This lack of foresight leads to unsatisfactory policy implementation and subsequent reversals by the federal government.
The overall effect of policy U-turns on public perception is a lack of trust in government initiatives and programmes. Malaysia’s history of policy reversals has created a perception of inconsistency in policy execution and transparency, further eroding public confidence. Asrul Hadi noted that these issues have persisted across different administrations and have resulted in a lack of foresight regarding potential public backlash. Criticism of the government’s lack of engagement with industry and the public during policy implementation has led to unsatisfactory outcomes and subsequent U-turns.
In conclusion, Malaysia’s frequent policy U-turns have undermined public confidence in the government and its ability to implement effective policies. Lack of engagement by policymakers in policy design and execution, coupled with a reactive approach to policymaking, has led to inconsistencies and reversals that further erode public trust. Moving forward, it is essential for the Malaysian government to improve coordination, engagement with industry and the public, and foresight to prevent policy U-turns and rebuild public confidence in government initiatives.
