A recent backtrack over the official transport app’s sign-in system is one of numerous policy U-turns that sets a bad image for the government among the public and foreign investors, say experts.
Malaysia Road Transport Department's MyJPJ app is used to view and renew one’s driver’s licence and road tax. KUALA LUMPUR: A pop-up on Malaysia ’s official transport app on Oct 1 sparked a wave of backlash after it announced users would have just nine days before having to use a relatively new national identification system to log into the app.
Mr Loke said that the pop-up was not an official announcement from his ministry or the JPJ, acknowledging that it could have caused public confusion. The event is the latest in a series of recent string of reversals by the Malaysian government on policies with significant impact on the ground. Observers told CNA that this could risk eroding confidence in the current government and its public policy.
After public outcry, Malaysia scraps Oct 10 deadline for MyJPJ transport app users to adopt national identification system Dr Ong felt Mr Loke made the right decision to postpone the login requirement after finding out about the move and the public complaints it triggered. “That's why there are many announcements made that I would say are half-baked, an afterthought announcement. It is very bad because it sends a very bad image to foreign investors about how we make policy.”Observers told CNA that policy U-turns impact negatively on the government’s image, implying that it does not give enough consideration to good policy design and execution, as well as effective communication with policy implementers and the public who will be affected by these policies.
While the VEP episode does not fully qualify as a government U-turn, netizens have observed that Mr Loke’s insistence of enforcement by Oct 1 with the subsequent delay shows a lingering perception of Malaysia’s tendency to roll out unclear and easily reversible policies. During the COVID-19 pandemic under then-premier Muhyiddin Yassin's administration, Malaysians were riled up by what they perceived as constant flip-flops in regulations.
“The public may question whether due diligence and comprehensive planning are being consistently applied, particularly when policies are introduced and then swiftly reversed.”The common theme in policy U-turns, Dr Ong said, is that the policymakers are not “hands on and minds on” enough when it comes to policy design and execution.
“This has resulted in a lack of foresight on potential public backlash and unsatisfactory policy implementation, leading to reversals or U-turns by the federal government.” “Common threads in these situations often include the challenge of anticipating public response and the complexities of implementing new policies across diverse and often digitally savvy populations.”
Local media reported on Oct 6 that the Communications Ministry is reviewing its Community Communications Department for better coordination. In September 2024, his successor Mohd Khairuddin Othman was dropped from his post after just six months in the job. Citing a source, Free Malaysia Today reported that he was terminated due to a “series of alleged infractions”, including the wastage of funds.
“It would not be fair to put this responsibility entirely on the Ministry of Communications since they are not the policyholder in most cases,” he noted.
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