Anwar and Shabery shake hands at the end of the debate. So what do you think? Who was the more convincing? Respond to the poll on the sidebar.
2151: Why don’t you give your ideas without talk of changing government, Dato Seri?
Anwar: If they accept our suggestion, we will support them. In Feb 2006, after an earlier price hike, there was 4.8 per cent inflation. Now, after the price hike, inflation has soared to nearly 8 per cent in a month. Venezuela and Iran may have low oil price and high inflation, but we now have high oil price and high inflation! Look at the countries around us – how we have lost out to them in competitiveness. I still believe Malaysia, with its resources, has the potential if it cleans up its act.
Shabery: Mahathir has been blamed for the IPPs, but Anwar was once singing the praises of Mahathir. He should have resigned back then. Why is he only talking about a 50-sen reduction now when the oil price was RM1.92 before the election and he promised to reduce it then? We will only burden the country with high subsidies and could end up in debt to international “money lenders”.
Petronas alone (not the group) gives 91 per cent of its profit to the government. What else is there to give? Petronas is strong because of the government of Umno and BN. We do not burden Petronas but allow it to reinvest. About this talk of abuse of power – we are not alone in raising prices; it’s a global problem.
Anwar: Among oil producers, our price is high. If we want our economy to be strong, if we continue in this direction, our economy will be severely undermined. That’s why I am committed to explaining to the people. I will not respond to Shabery’s personal attacks. I don’t have space on RTM after this. I give you my assurance that i will contest in a by-election in the shortest time.
Shabery: Anwar hasn’t changed much. Those who built Petronas – Razak, Mahathir, Abdullah – Anwar has opposed them. If we continue to ask more money from Petronas to subsidise the country, we could end up poorer and Petronas could end up being taken over. Our GDP growth is 6 per cent, much better than many others. The debate now shows how open the government has become.
2140: In a few years we might not have enough oil. What do we do then? Should we continue the subsidy, or are you going to have a sharp price rise then?
Anwar: Who gave the figure of oil depletion in a few years? That assumes there are no further oil discoveries. Some 30 years ago, our reserves were supposed to last until 2005. Petronas then went abroad to explore. I defend Petronas but I criticise the BN.
The mismanagement of the government, the leakages… It’s true, the IPPs were during my time, but look at the record. Ani Arope was opposed to the EPU and the Prime Minister’s Dept over the IPPs. That’s why he quit.
The IPPs have made billions but those on the losing side are Petronas and TNB. We could plug the leakages and cronyism and save a total of RM3 billion. Who’s idea is this of a sharp oil price rise? This is a IMF-World Bank prescription! It is slanderous to say that I bowed to IMF wishes back in 1997-98.
Petronas said there was a special dividend for the government of RM6 billion this year. Can’t we take RM1 billion of this to reduce the oil price? It is not an issue of Pakatan Rakyat. It is for the people. We are staring at economic recession and unemployment.
2132: Why do you focus on the price of oil and not talk about income tax or reducing inflation?
Shabery: We are not a major oil producer. We are just a minor producer. We are just a small net exporter. Only 26 per cent of Petronas profit is from domestic sources. Petronas has to use its profits to find oil abroad. We now have a world renown oil corporation. Don’t make Petronas too poor.
Anwar: Shabery, who compared Malaysia to Venezuela and Iran? We should look at Malaysia as an oil exporter. The sharp rise has caused economic deterioration. Why did the government break its pre-election promise not to raise oil prices? Who is saying anything about taking Petronas money? My argument is to look at the IPPs and wipe out corruption. Why don’t we manage our treasury better to ease the suffering of the people?
Shabery: This is a populist argument. We can accept it if our oil is isolated from the world or if our oil is the only one that is expensive in the world. The IPPs existed when Anwar was in government, and he defended their contracts back then. Anwar used the methods that the IMF favoured to try and resolve the 1997-98 crisis. It is easy to talk when you are outside. Even with their difficulties now, believe me, the people have enough to eat. Show me a country which gives cheap oil without high inflation.
2128: When you were Finance Minister you sent up a Tabung Warisan. What was the aim?
Anwar: The idea was to keep part of our earnings for the future, but that was not maintained. The sharp price now has led to spiralling inflation. It will have adverse effects. But each rise of US$1 in the price of oil actually results in RM360 million income for us. Right now, the sharp rise in inflation will lead to a deterioration in the economy.
2125: In 2006, when there was a price hike, the government said it would improve public transport. Now they are saying that they are going to use the substantial savings for the benefit of the people. Can we believe that?
Shabery: All the countries that have cheap oil – look at Venezuela and Iran, look at their high inflation rates. We can now overcome our food price crisis. Our rice is cheaper than Thailand. We don’t have to demonstrate on the road or hold indecent concerts.
2120: Your premise of a 50 sen reduction is because Malaysia is an oil producer. But your points about IPP had nothing to do with oil. Are you going to distribute what has been collected through the hard work of others so that you get a good name?
Anwar: IPPs are also involved with oil and gas. Petronas has made a huge profit; its profit ranks it among the top 10 oil companies. We will definitely ask Petronas to reinvest. But Petronas is the right of the people. Are we just going to look after the tycoons and the cronies or the people? The 50 sen reduction is just the first step. The extreme price hike has won no support. The only ones supporting it are the BN MPs..
2111: Would the government have to subsidise foreign oil companies in retail sales if there is a price subsidy as Petronas alone does not control the retail market?
Shabery: If subsidies are given out, it would benefit the rich and foreigners as well. Why don’t we give the money straight to the people who need it? Finland and Norway etc do not have subsidies and have shown good economic performance.
Anwar: If you want to compare with Norway, it has 10 times the per capita income of Malaysia. The petrol price is hurting the poor and marginalised groups and aggravating their suffering. It is our responsibility. Such a sharp rise is burdening the people. If Umno and the ruling coalition don’t realise this, then their future is bleak. What about infrastructure spending – isn’t that a form of subsidy for companies? But we call that “incentives”. On the other hand, aid for the people is called “subsidies”, which are given a negative connotation.
2107: Shabery responds that the government would have to incur a subsidy of RM50 billion if it maintained the price at RM1.92 and that would affect development. He said that global factors also influence the oil price. He recalled the first global crisis in 1973-74, which worsened inflation including in Malaysia. Petronas was formed back then, which wasn’t easy. The people supported Razak’s move. Anwar protested against Razak back then. And Anwar was now doing this again.
2102: Anwar kicks off with his opening statement. He insists that with proper economic management and eradication of corruption, an immediate cut in petrol price of 50 sen is possible. He speaks of the suffering felt by many, particularly the Malays and bumis in Sabah. He points out that TNB has to pay for 40 per cent excess capacity and how Petronas has made an excellent profit of RM100 billion – which could enable the government to raise RM3 billion for distribution to the people through a price reduction.
2100: The one-hour live debate gets underway at Balai Budaya. The moderator warns against raising irrelevant issues. Both speakers receive decent applause.
Share your comments on the debate over TV9, Astro Awani and Bernama TV from 9.00pm. This live write up is specially for those of you who don’t have access to these three stations and those abroad who would like to follow the debate. Please note this is not a verbatim transcript; it just covers the main points raised or emphasised and paraphrases much of what was said.
Good Job Mr Anuar, Well done on your debate. The best part everyone who involve in the debate has prepared their card to ask question to Mr Anuar,which they have prepared 1 weeks earlier I supposed, however Mr Anuar replying the answer by using his heart and brain at that point of time. Appreciate a lot Mr Anuar because you talk with facts and figure for future growth. shebry talks history and information only. If there is next debate should involve PM or Deputy PM debate rather then sending a small boy.
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Anwar Ibrahim 1 Joseph Goebbels 0
So, there!
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It was a big waste for the nation not to have a such good leader as Dato Anuar Ibrahim who has vision and solution to over come our economic criss. Instead of that corruption and mis management of the malaysian economic leading the entire nation into disaster. The confident presented by dato anuar ibrahim very convening to accept his idea to over come our criss. But shabery is very poor leader who represent Barisan National clearly show they are incapable of handling the issue but try to hide on the name of global and past story. We are not living in the past world but heading to future. So i don’t know why Shabery was talking about past incidence.
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Information minister who can’t inform.
He won’t resign, cause resignation would mean that he lost. and MSM will spin it like either BN won or the rakyat won. Either way, half true cause AI won the debate. But do allow more debates like this in the future. i would like to see Kit Siang Vs Kah Ting or Pandikar Vs Teck Lee
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The debate shows how a good orator can convince the audience on his issues by means of talking. And talk is cheap and that’s about it. It was just talk. Just the same when we do it at the mamak stall or kopitiam. Doing and implementing things is another story. In the end, the debate confirms the burden of the current government in doing things to get us through the tough times economically and politically and the personal aspiration of a person wanting so much to become the PM for whatever reason, who had his chance 10 years ago but screwed up doing it.
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As usual the mainstream media (like TV3 on Nightline), only quoted what Shabery said and not a single line of response by Anwar. As if Anwar was totally outdone by Shabery.
Best of all Shahrir Samad said Anwar is not convincing at all. This Shahrir is full of c*** and the way I see it, he should be in the debate and have his butt kicked by Anwar.
Only a fool will fall for that TV3 reporting bulls***.
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Thank you so much for the minute to minute summary Anil.
Shabery did not give any new insights on how this fuel hike issue ought to be tackled. He was like a broken down record player repeating all the propaganda that we’ve been hearing since the fuel hike. His personal attacks towards DSAI was completely uncalled for and obviously out of the scope of the debate. The chairperson should have steered him to keeping his arguments on topic.
DSAI kept to the facts, did not retaliate and stoop to Shabery’s personal attacks at him. That takes a lot for someone who is going through so much lately. And it says volumes about his character.
DSAI is a true leader. Our PM in the making. When I hear him speak, I am inspired. Hope swells within me. That a change is so very near.
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sdr. anawar won d debate hands down.
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Shabery’ personal attack shown UMNO did not change at all after 308 political tsunami, and the other hand Anwar shown his leadership
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[...] to the organisers, Agenda Daily. Watch the videos below to judge for yourself or read about it at Anilnetto.com, MalaysiaKini and The Obnoxious 5xmom. Source: anwaribrahimblog.com Popularity: 1% [...]
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too over to say that, because UMNO, BN this country became so good… this is the point that public don`t like BN any more…. Must behave now……… People is asking petrol not party…..
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We have a mix family of difference races and we do debate from time to time over politic, domestic and social issues. Today we sat and watched an all American style debate Two points that we noticed
Annuar is a leader of PKR while IM is not projected to be the PM or DPM . The later has nothing to worry he tried his best to defend BN
Annuar was a perfect gentlemen and stay to the topic on the debate
IM was using the debate to defend BN and 75% or move was focused on
personnel insults and going round the bush.
IM is a winner for being brave and has the courage
Annuar is the overall winner on the debate and strike on .
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The VC of UUM -Made a mockery himself by asking stupied Q…God please help Malaysian Universities….
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[...] debate. For those who missed it, it’s posted on Anwar’s blog HERE. Anil Netto has a more concise written version of the debate, touching on the main [...]
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[...] membuat ulasan yang lebih terperinci, boleh di baca di sini (Mkini BM), di sini (Mkini English) dan di sini (Anil Netto). Dalam masa yang sama pembaca juga boleh membuat undian untuk menilai keputusan akhir debat semalam [...]
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As we talking about the increase of oil, would be better choice if BN team select Finance Minister (hehe..also Our Pak Lah as PM & Finance Minister 1) to debate against our DSAI…talking about facts and good information related to economics…
DSAI talked about all d facts and as information minister talking nonsense…
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This Sha-berry was not professional enough, he consistently use personal attack on Dato Seri, shameful. This is a debate not a childish program, only child will do it and undoubtedly, sha-berry has demonstrated himself as a never grown adult. What will happen if the country is being led by people like sha-berry??
I’m not trying to critize Sha-berry and keep on standing at Anwar side but the reality is he, Sha-berry never seem could answer most of the questions being thrown to him. Further more, the person (reprenstative) that sha-berry has chosen also used personal attack (double shameful).
Dato Seri won the debate. The advantage of Dato Seri is he has more experience than Sha-berry and that’s why he won. But again, I think Dato Seri will still make it if they bring up the Sleeping Beauty and the C4 guy. That’s why both of them were unwillingly to come out because these two guys are even silly then Sha-berry.
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Read bharian.com… latest comment on debate… ha ha ha… one of the BN supproter said… shabery pukul habis hujah anwar dengan memberikan jawapan yang cukup bernas…. ha ha ha….
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Anwar,you’re really inspired me as a new generation of Malaysia.
Fight for our future.
Shabery, you need to learn more and more and more…
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hahahahahaha..Anwar obviously has won the debate..he used to speaking.
rather than the Cheek!
Holy Bravo to him!!!
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what’s the blur info minister that we have. did he passed his Bahasa Malaysia oral test in MCE/SPM? Bravo Datuk Seri Anwar.The truth is and always prevail.
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[...] summary transcript in Anil Netto’s blog [scroll from bottom to [...]
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Minister of mis-Information, no information at all. Probably thinks that the public will be ‘fooled’ by his personal attacks which is probably why he ‘decided’ to participate in the Debate. Actually, he thinks that it is worth throwing mud at someone in National TV. He should quickly get out of the government.
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All I have to say is – Sha Biri Biri, please be a gentlemen and tender your resignation, which is the very least you can do after the way you perform which also demonstrate your utter lack of professionalism, competence, knowledge and capablity to represent this proud nation as a Minister. I hope this is not the case with rest of the Minister running this country…then we are all in deep s***.
We are now living in the new century and going forward – we will have less people that are not educated. So if you cannot even understand that we Malaysians are now smarter, learned and at least being able to grasp basic economy better than you, the very least you can do is NOT ASSUMED we Malaysian are all idiots.
There is no need to compare to Venezuela lar, Sweden lar etc. Just compare to Singapore – a NET OIL IMPORTER, on a per capita income basis, their oil is cheaper – how does that figure?????
In Singapore the pump price is S$2.10 so if I am earning S$3,000 and staying there compare to a Malaysian staying here and earning RM3,000 paying RM2.70 – who is paying more for petrol?????
Malaysians are not dumb lar … at least get that through your brain.
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The person proposing the oil price reduction must be armed with more than just “we take from Petronas and give it to the rakyat tomorrow (errr after I become PM)”. Robin Hood? So simple? And then what? What mechanisms to be implemented to sustain that and for how long? Before election – “we’ll bring down price from 1.92 “, last nite it was “kenapa kenaikan harga secara mendadak?”. So what is the debate topic here, reducing oil price or him telling the govt that they should have increased it … gradually?
Mister Frothy didnt help either by diverting issues and hitting below the belt. No economist there but lots of gumption… and bubbles.. He should have also explained cost cutting measures (if any) to be implemented by govt to mitigate this hike and ease the rakyat’s burden. The main reason for such a drastic hike was never explained, apart from the usual excuse of global market situation etc.
Wonder how DSAI will fare if it was the Petronas Head opposing him.
and please people, there’s no such thing as a Prime Minister-in-waiting. Sounds so Victorian. You’re either a PM or you’re not.
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