Shahrir slams Anwar's views on subsidies

Shahrir slams Anwar's views on subsidies
11 June, 2008

(NST) - De facto opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's inconsistent stand on fuel subsidies became the subject of criticism on a live talk show over national television yesterday.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad questioned Anwar's sincerity in promising that he would retain the fuel subsidy.

"When he was deputy prime minister and the country was undergoing the economic crisis in 1998, he was pushing for the government to take the International Monetary Fund bailout.

"One of the prerequisites then was that there should be no subsidies. But former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad did not want to abolish the subsidies and we did it the Malaysian way."

Shahrir was debating with Pas youth chief and MP for Kubang Kerian, Salahudin Ayub, on RTM1's Bicawara: Bersemuka dengan Media programme last night.

Shahrir said that the opposition was playing on the people's sentiments.

"They are taking advantage of the fuel price hike, an unpopular but necessary decision by the government.

"We are a responsible government. If we wanted to be popular, we would have 'amused' the people by retaining the fuel subsidies, even if it meant pushing the country deeper into debt. Instead, we decided to be prudent."

He added that the government recognised and valued its assets by making such a decision.

"We're not trying to putar-belit (mislead) people by giving them an unreal situation.

"We could be a populist government - let every-one be happy and enjoy the subsidies. But the effects will be felt by the next generation."

Salahuddin said the government should have done a proper study before increasing the fuel price. Instead, he said the prices were raised hastily, adding that the government had made no preparations for the impending hike which had already made headlines as early as 2006.

He called on all parties, including non-governmental organisations to discuss measures to improve public transportation which he claimed was "still Third World in nature".

Petronas profits also became a point of contention, with Salahuddin arguing that the profits of the oil company should be used for the benefit of all Malaysians.