Special Report
A look back at Harapan's first 100 days in power
Malaysiakini, 17 August 2018
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After winning the 14th general election, Pakatan Harapan has been scrutinised closely over its ability tofulfil its election pledges. While seeking to chart its own course, it has had to deal with issues from theprevious administration, including the 1MDB saga. Here, we revisit Harapan's first 100 days in power.
Day 0
May 9
Harapan wins GE14
BN loses federal power for the first time in Malaysian history. In the 14th general election, PakatanHarapan wins 113 out of 222 parliamentary seats, enabling the coalition to form the federal governmentwith a simple majority.
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Day 1
May 10
Dr M sworn in as PM
Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad is sworn in as prime minister, marking the start of his secondstint in office.
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Day 3
May 12
Najib resigns as Umno, BN chief
Former premier Najib Abdul Razak announces his resignation as head of Umno and BN.
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Dr M bars Najib from leaving country
Najib and wife Rosmah Mansor are placed on the Immigration Department travel blacklist, amid leakedflight plans to Jakarta. Mahathir confirms the next day that he issued the order.
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Council of Eminent Persons formed
Mahathir announces the formation of a special council to advise the government.
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First three ministers named
The prime minister names the first three cabinet appointees, for the home, defence and financeportfolios: Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, and DAPsecretary-general Lim Guan Eng respectively.
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Day 6
May 15
Auditor-general's report on 1MDB declassified
The 1MDB audit report is unsealed on Mahathir's orders, two years after it was placed under theOfficial Secrets Act 1972.
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Day 7
May 16
Anwar receives royal pardon, released from prison
PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is released after serving over three years for a sodomy charge,following a full royal pardon.
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Najib-linked properties searched by cops
Over two days, scores of police officers search properties linked to Najib as part of a 1MDB probe.This includes the ex-premier's private residence at Jalan Langgak Duta and three condominium units inPavilion Residences, Kuala Lumpur.
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Day 8
May 17
Dr M takes education portfolio, then drops it
Mahathir's decision to assume the role of education minister is greeted by reminders from theopposition about Harapan's manifesto promise that the prime minister will not take otherministerships. He subsequently relinquishes the portfolio the next day.
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Day 12
May 21
First batch of Harapan ministers sworn in
The Harapan government is installed, with the country's first female deputy prime minister Dr WanAzizah Wan Ismail leading 13 cabinet ministers in the swearing-in ceremony before the Yang di-PertuanAgong.
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PM announces national debt now more than RM1 trillion
Mahathir claims the country's debt has passed the RM1 trillion mark, which is nearly double what wasclaimed by previous administration.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng later says that this includes "hidden debts" such as governmentguarantee payments and lease payments for public-private partnership projects.
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Day 19
May 28
KL-Singapore HSR scrapped, then postponed
Mahathir declares Putrajaya's decision to scrap the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail project isfinal, after telling the media that the "unnecessary project" would be dropped. However, he later saysin June that the project was merely postponed.
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Day 21
May 30
Gov't sets up Tabung Harapan
Mahathir introduces the Tabung Harapan Malaysia (Hope Fund) for Malaysians wishing to help the countrysettle its debts. As of Aug 16, the fund has collected almost RM178 million.
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Day 22
May 31
MRT3 scrapped
The prime minister announces that the MRT circle line project, or MRT3, will be terminated. It waspreviously estimated that the project would cost between RM40 billion and RM50 billion.
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Day 23
Jun 1
Zero-rated GST begins
The Finance Ministry had announced on May 16 that the GST rate would be reduced from six to zeropercent effective June 1.
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Day 26
Jun 4
Tommy Thomas appointed as new AG
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong consents to Tommy Thomas' appointment as attorney-general, following reportsof a stand-off between the palace and the government over the choice of a non-Muslim for the position.
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Day 27
Jun 5
Guan Eng wants Najib to answer for RM9.4b SSER project
Finance minister Lim Guan Eng reveals that his predecessor released RM8.25 billion – 87.7 percent ofthe cost – for two oil and gas pipeline projects undertaken by Finance Ministry subsidiary SuriaStrategic Energy Resources (SSER), despite little actual work being carried out.
Lim also establishes that several personalities involved in SSER are linked to former 1MDB subsidiarySRC International Sdn Bhd.
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Day 29
Jun 7
Top judges Raus and Zulkefli resign
Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif and Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin submit resignationletters to Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Their resignations are scheduled to take effect on July 31.
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Day 33
Jun 11
Dr M gears up for national car 3.0
Mahathir tells a Japanese conference that Malaysia is mulling over a new national car project. It islater reported that several Japanese carmarkers are being sought for assistance.
Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Yusof says on Jul 4 that the government is set tolaunch the new project by 2020.
On June 29, Mahathir also moots the possibility of a Malaysian-Indonesian car for the Asean market.
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Day 45
Jun 23
BN reduced to 3 parties after Gerakan's departure
Gerakan becomes the tenth party to leave BN, following in the footsteps of the coalition's EastMalaysian allies, and MyPPP. As such, only three parties remain with BN: Umno, MCA and MIC.
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Day 49
Jun 27
Police reveal RM686m haul from Najib-linked properties
Police say items seized during a May raid on properties linked to the former premier have a totalvalue of RM686.37 million, with an estimated market value of up to RM1.1 billion.
This included 272 handbags (with 295 more to be valued), 423 watches, more than 10,000 pieces ofjewellery, and RM116.7 million in cash.
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Najib visits Malaysiakini for the first time
The former premier, who had withdrawn a 2014 defamation suit against Malaysiakini a week earlier,comes to the news portal's office in Petaling Jaya for an interview. Among issues discussed are itemsseized from his properties, 1MDB, and GE14.
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Day 54
Jun 30
Zahid elected Umno president
Former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is elected as Umno president, beating former partyyouth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and party veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. He is later selected in Julyas parliamentary opposition leader.
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Day 54
Jul 2
Second batch of Harapan ministers sworn in
Thirteen ministers are sworn in, including the youngest cabinet member in Malaysian history, SyedSaddiq Abdul Rahman, who takes the youth and sports portfolio.
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Day 55
Jul 3
MACC arrests Najib at his residence
The former premier is arrested at his Jalan Langgak Duta residence and brought to MACC's Putrajayaheadquarters for questioning in relation to its probe into SRC International, a former 1MDBsubsidiary.
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ECRL, SSER pipeline projects told to suspend all works immediately
The Finance Ministry, via MoF Inc, issues a work suspension notice for all contracts related to theEast Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and two SSER pipeline projects. Putrajaya says ECRL's actual cost is RM81billion, which is 47 percent more than the RM55 billion price tag claimed by previous administration.
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Day 56
Jul 4
Najib claims trial to four charges
Najib claims trial to one graft, three CBT charges for allegedly receiving RM42 million from SRCInternational. He pleads not guilty to all charges and leaves court after his family posts half of hisRM1 million bail.
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Day 63
Jul 11
Richard Malanjum becomes first East Malaysian CJ
Richard Malanjum is sworn in as the new chief justice, becoming the first person from the Borneostates to be appointed to Malaysia’s highest judicial post. Meanwhile, Ahmad Maarop is sworn in asCourt of Appeal president.
Their predecessors were reportedly asked to vacate their posts with immediate effect.
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Day 64
Jul 12
Putrajaya greenlights LRT3 after halving cost
Government approves continuation of the LRT3 project after the final cost is slashed by 47 percent toRM16.63 billion.
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Day 68
Jul 16
Opposition MPs stage walkout over speaker's appointment
The first Dewan Rakyat sitting since GE14 gets off to a rocky start when oppositions MPs walk out ofspeaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof's swearing-in ceremony, on grounds that his appointment did not complywith standing orders to submit the application 14 days before the first sitting begins.
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PM says Harapan manifesto “not a bible”
The coalition's election manifesto does not need to be followed to the letter, and should serve as aguide instead, says the premier.
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Day 69
Jul 17
'Sila duduk, jangan lari': Agong mocks walkout
The House is left in stitches when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong tells the lawmakers to ""sit down anddon't run away"" in reference to the previous day's walkout, before making his opening speech duringthe new Parliament session.
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Eight new senators sworn in
These include DAP's Liew Chin Tong and Hindraf chief P Waythamoothy, who together with three other newsenators are subsequently appointed to cabinet.
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Day 70
Jul 18
Backbencher first to receive the boot
DAP Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh is ejected from the Dewan Rakyat by the speaker for refusing toretract his statement describing Umno Youth members as ""gangsters (samseng).”
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Day 87
Aug 4
Harapan wins first by-election after GE14
Harapan retains the Sungai Kandis state seat in Selangor with a majority of 5,842 votes, in aby-election that's seen as a test for post-GE14 voter sentiments towards the new federaladministration.
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Day 88
Aug 5
Anwar wins PKR presidency uncontested
The PKR de facto leader wins the party presidency uncontested at the close of nominations for centralparty positions.
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Day 90
Aug 7
Equanimity arrives in Port Klang
The long-elusive superyacht, allegedly purchased with 1MDB funds, docks at Port Klang after Indonesiaagrees to hand the yacht over to Malaysia. Mahathir tours the boat four days later and calls it "superluxurious".
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Day 91
Aug 8
Najib slapped with more charges
The prosecution lays three money laundering charges on former premier in relation to SRCInternational, with previous four charges being amended.
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Guan Eng: Audit reveals RM19b in GST refunds 'misused'
The finance minister tells the Dewan Rakyat that there is an RM18 billion shortfall in GST refunds,which he claimed was misused by the previous administration. The next day, he clarifies the shortfallwas higher than previously disclosed, amounting to RM19.248 billion.
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PMO heist: RM3.5m taken from Najib's office on night of election
MACC arrests 17 security personnel at the Prime Minister's Department, who allegedly took RM3.5million from Najib's office on the night of May 9 upon sensing BN's impending defeat. All 17 areeventually released on bail.
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Mujahid orders LGBT activist photos to be taken down from exhibition
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of religious affairs, Mujahid Yusof Rawa,confirms that his department gave the order for two photos of LGBT activists to be taken down from aMerdeka-themed exhibition at the George Town Festival in Penang.
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Day 96
Aug 13
BTN and National Service abolished, Youth Ministry to take over
Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman announces that the National Civics Bureau (BTN) andNational Service programmes will be abolished and replaced with a substitute programme in line withthe Constitution and Rukun Negara.
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Harapan pledges that require constitutional amendments put on hold
The prime minister says election pledges that require constitutional amendments, such as a two-termlimit for the premiership, may have to be postponed, as Harapan does not have the necessary two-thirdsmajority in Parliament.
However, he adds that the coalition will seek the opposition's support for such pledges.
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Day 97
Aug 14
Behind closed doors, Dr M admits tough time over 'thick' manifesto
Mahathir tells a gathering of Harapan MPs that the coalition is facing a tough time over its ""thick""manifesto, as some promises were made without the expectation of winning GE14.
He adds that the coalition must now do its best to fulfil its promises or find proper justificationsfor those that cannot be met.
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Day 99
Aug 16
Anti-Fake News Act repealed
The Dewan Rakyat approves a bill to repeal the controversial Anti-Fake News Act through a voice vote.
The act, which was passed in April, had been denounced as a tool to silence dissent and muzzle news onthe 1MDB scandal.
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