WHEN the rakyat is unhappy, rest assured that no matter what the government of the day does, it will be subject to criticism.
With the cost-of-living crisis dominating the headlines alongside a number of other high-profile issues, many citizens – not limited to just opposition supporters – have been sharpening their knives.
The unveiling of this year’s slogan for Merdeka and Malaysia Day celebrations was no exception.
As highlighted by The Reporter on Facebook, the slogan Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni (Malaysia Madani: Prioritising the People) was met with its fair share of cynicism and scepticism.
Editor’s Note: As per Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil’s justification, the theme reflects the government’s priority in protecting people’s welfare by following the Malaysia Madani aspiration that upholds the values of unity and prosperity.
Topping the agenda was the rising cost of living such as the recent price like of liquefied gas for commercial use being the main bone of contention. A few – wittily – suggested alternative slogans to reflect the withdrawal of essential subsidies.
Another alternative slogan sang the praises of the crooked and corrupt.
The various taxes imposed by the Madani administration was also a hot topic of discussion.
Inevitably, the numerous hardships encountered by Malaysians lead to more alternate slogans, including one which literally translates to “The Rakyat Get Urinated Upon, Taxes are Prioritised”.
One netizen observed that thousands of jobs can be lost in a blink of an eye, alluding to PETRONAS recent downsizing. Even though many were put on contracts, it makes it difficult to manage family expenses, he argued.
One simply observed that this year’s theme was completely out of sync with the government of the day.
The removal of subsidies is one but a number of other issues which included the abuse of telco data and using bodies such as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to silence critics.
Another netizen echoed similar sentiments by claiming that the difference between the slogan and reality were miles apart.
It can be argued that on one hand, unpopular policies are necessary for the long-term health of the nation.
But on the other, if this Madani government does not read the signals being put out by the electorate, it may have little say in the long-term future of Malaysia after the 16th General Election (GE16). – June 13, 2025
Main image credit: Bernama
