Pakatan Harapan's mistake is assuming that good reforms automatically translate into good politics. Reform must be felt in people's daily lives, not just celebrated in policy forums. If Harapan wants reforms to resonate before the 16th general election, it must connect institutional change with tangible improvements to people's livelihoods while addressing local grievances honestly and consistently. Otherwise, reform will remain a compelling slogan for policy circles but a distant abstraction for many voters. Exile: As an economist, Ong Kian Ming has consistently emphasised evidence-based policymaking, institutional reform and electoral strategy.