Criticising governments is easy, taking over much harder

At the recent Umno General Assembly, there was an unusually loud and intense call for the Anwar Ibrahim government to dissolve Parliament and hold a general election. However, internal party dynamics suggest that many key Umno leaders are now working cooperatively with the Anwar-led administration. With political stability and a strong economy, there is little urgency to dissolve Parliament prematurely, particularly since the next general election is scheduled for early 2028.

Criticism of governments is relatively straightforward, while taking over the reins of government is far more challenging. The power to overthrow a government lies in implementing sharp strategies and capitalizing on an incumbent's weaknesses. Conversely, governing necessitates building robust institutions, managing the economy effectively, and maintaining public trust over time.

Opposition movements are typically united by a singular goal: removing the current government or altering the system. While this shared enemy may seem unbreakable from the outside, opposition factions often have deeply conflicting ideologies. Once a common enemy is eliminated, such temporary alliances typically collapse as internal factions vie for power and state resources.

Governments often fail not because they lack democratic space, but due to a significant lack of administrative capacity. Newly elected leaders frequently become so focused on electoral demands that they neglect the complex, behind-the-scenes work of nation-building. While they excel at riding public anger to gain momentum, they often find themselves struggling once they assume actual governance responsibilities.

The 2011 Arab Spring serves as a cautionary tale. Mass protests successfully toppled long-standing dictatorships in Egypt and Libya, only to be followed by severe political instability, economic collapse, and civil war. Opposition groups might criticize past regimes for societal failures, only to inherit those same crises when they assume power themselves.

Governance requires technical expertise rather than mere noise and revolutionary rage. Running a country demands competent bureaucrats, not merely emotion or street activism. Capital flight, disillusionment, and the disappearance of promised economic reforms are common outcomes when new governments fail to deliver on their promises. This capital exodus drains financial resources and costs the nation critical administrative talent.