DPM: No magic wand, give Harapan time to repair damage

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has called on all Malaysians to be patient and give the Pakatan Harapan government time to solve all the problems left behind by the previous BN administration.

She said the Harapan government might need one year, three years or even longer, to repair the damage wrought by a government that practised kleptocracy for 61 years.

“It’s not easy to repair something that has been damaged for so long; there is no magic wand, there is no automatic button you can just press (to solve everything)... it doesn't work that way. 

"It will take sweat and tears and it has to be done by everybody, all Malaysians.

“We all must work hard to repair the many ruins and damage, and this process may take a while,” she said at a meeting with the Malaysian diaspora in Paris on Sunday.

Wan Azizah is on a four-day working visit to France to chair two Unesco Management of Social Transformation (Most) meetings, namely the Most Bureau meeting on March 18, as well as the 14th Session of the Intergovernmental Council (IGC) for Most on March 19 and 20.

At the meeting attended by the Malaysian community and students in France, Wan Azizah also explained why unity was important for the country to move forward to become the New Malaysia.

She said as a multiracial country, people of one race should not be jealous or prejudiced against those of other races.

“Look at New Zealand, a country so stable, prosperous and peaceful, but was shocked with a white supremacy propaganda incident in which the suspect attacked unarmed civilians who were performing prayers... we cannot have our own people be jealous, angry and hate each other as Malaysians,” she said.

Wan Azizah also called on the Malaysian community and students in France to return to Malaysia to help develop the country with their expertise and knowledge.

“We need the Malaysian diaspora from all over the world to help build the New Malaysia,” she added.

- Bernama