Kuala Lampur, Sept. 2 -- Recently, I wrote about the RM100 SARA aid as a "policy trial balloon" to shift Malaysia's welfare system towards universalism.

The principle of it was sound: a benefit for all citizens, functioning as a first step that could pave the way for a more inclusive social safety net.

While the vision was commendable, the execution has been a sobering lesson in the vast gap that can exist between a policy's intent and its real-world implementation.

The experiment has yielded its first results, and they are clear: while the "what" is a step in the right direction, the "how" is deeply flawed.

The chaotic rollout on August 31 was marked by widespread system failures, processing delays, and an official apology from the M...