Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Redzuan Yusof said the country is far from being a failed state because it has a functioning system.

“There is still law and order, the government and its delivery systems are functioning, there is no sign that the system is breaking down.

“Yes, there are challenges because of Covid-19, there are some restrictions on movements, but society is still functioning.”

He was commenting on an opinion piece by Bloomberg columnist Daniel Moss, who wrote that the country may be heading towards becoming a failed state following political instability, mismanagement of the Covid-19 pandemic and the emergence of the white flag movement.

Redzuan said while the government is open to criticisms, it is unfair to be selective with information and then make sweeping conclusions.

“Throughout the country, a lot of resources are being disbursed, certain economic sectors continue to operate. People are free to go out to get essentials, go to the bank and so on.

“There is no clampdown on criticism of the government. People are not denied their right to lodge police reports against anyone, including government leaders.

“This won’t happen in a failed state or in a country headed that way.”

It’s hyperbole, says Jomo

Economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram said at an online forum that although the government has performed poorly, it is “hyperbole” to imply that Malaysia is a failed state.

“There are many things that are still going reasonably (well), if you think about the vaccination process, many people would actually say that given the circumstances like the failure of the vaccine companies to deliver as scheduled, we haven’t done too badly.”

Jomo, who was speaking at the forum on democracy and constitutional monarchy in Malaysia, said that while there are many aspects of the government that have failed, Malaysia is not a failed state as implied.