While many need time to adapt to the new situation after the general elections, responses from some people were disappointing as they kept playing around with racial issues. They used to criticise the Opposition for breaching the peace by holding illegal rallies, but they are now doing the same thing.

The ruling coalition should bear in mind that they are still holding the central power and there are still many issues for them to cope with. The ruling coalition had “wasted” more than a month in elections and now, they must race against time.

Firstly, the Prime Minister should form a capable and effective Cabinet by abandoning the tradition of retaining certain posts to certain component parties. He should directly appoint talents to be ministers.

In the past 50 years, many issues have been politicised and racially polarized because of the leadership style of politicians. Therefore, we should now learn to let talents in certain fields to manage certain areas including the economy, investment, international trade and education. Also, skin colours should not be a concern for the government in appointing talents.

Secondly, the government should review existing policies. The Prime Minister said the lack of support of the people to the BN coalition was because of their discontentment with project distributions. This showed that government leaders did not understand why the people cast opposition votes.

Voters were dissatisfied with issues like inflation and social order, they too believed that racial policies no longer meet the challenge of globalisation. Therefore, the government must adjust its policies as soon as possible.

Thirdly, the government should enhance competitiveness and transparency. The competitiveness of the country has been declining in the past 10 years and the new Cabinet should see this as the priority, including to increase the standard of various areas and improve the quality of the people.

Besides, the government operation was lack of transparency, causing criticism from the people and failed to attract strategic investments. The government has to set new operational guidelines, such as sunshine policy to reduce corruption.

Fourthly, the government should improve financial management. The country has been facing financial deficit for the past 10 years. An improper financial management resulted in improper management in resolving price problems.

Inefficiency in management has caused the country to face many problems over the past four years. Therefore, we hope that the new Cabinet does not only efficient but also resolve problems like inflation, social order, corruption and lack of competitiveness. Otherwise, everything would be the same and the country would remain in the plight. (By LIM SUE GOAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)