Picture by Choo Choy May (Malaysian Insider)Last night's open debate between PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim and Umno's Minister of Information Ahmad Shabery Cheek created history in Malaysian political development. This is the first time that an American styled debate was telecast live on national television with the audience and supporters from both political divide. Surprisingly the audience attending the debate were reacting in a civilised manner and behave better than some of our MPs.
Frankly I am inclined to praise both the debaters for carrying themselves well with decorum and presenting their views in a respectful and professional manner. The only blurb which I thought that was off tangent was during Shabery Cheek's personal attack on Anwar's past history as a student leader in the 1970s and Umno's finance minister in the 1990s. Maybe Shabery Cheek take this debate too personal i.e. between him and Anwar, not between a BN government minister and the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader.
Generally this round of debate went to Anwar. He still has the oratical skills that awed many in the past but as the law of impermanence, age had caught up with him. The many years spent behind bars and many issues besieging him currently especially the sodomy case had taken the toll on him. He is no more the 1990s Anwar that I heard when he was the deputy prime minister. Not withstanding the age, his presentation was laid out with simple arguments which I think many laymen will tend to absorb easily. Corruption, financial leakages and cronyism is still a weapon for him to tear the government argument for not being able to stop the fuel price hike. His argument on revising the contract between Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and the Independent Power Producers(IPP) as a method to increase the government coffers may looks reasonable but implementation is questionable. How many of the IPPs are related to politicians or nominees of political party?
Shabery Cheek when cornered was desperate enough to use personal attacks on Anwar to support his arguments which I think for this sort of debate, it is akin to hitting below the belt in a boxing match. Putting that aside, Shabery's questioned on why Anwar only promised to reduce 50 sen from the current $2.70 per litre of petrol but not from the pre 308 general election price of $1.92 per litre if Pakatan Rakyat forms the government since the promised was there since the pre-election. If it is the case, the price of petrol if PR forms the government tomorow after reducing 50 sen should be $1.42, not $2.20 which is still higher than the pre election price. On this matter, Shabery clearly claimed his marks here.
Shabery's claimed on Anwar singing a different tune when he was with Umno/BN and another tune now when he is in opposition was a slap on Shabery's own face. Shabery too sings a different tune when he was with the now defunct Semangat 46, a splinter Umno group led by his political mentor Tengku Razaleigh. Now he is Umno/BN minister, surely he is now dancing to Umno's tempo. Many politicians with background like him should not point finger at others. It smacked of hypocrisy. Just accept that politicians survival depends on the capability to sing to the tune of their political master or policies. If after switching parties especially in opposing camps, a politician still holds to the former party approach, what then is the difference they wanna offer to the voters.
Hopefully this debate will set a precedence and create a healthier political culture which give more credence to enhance the democratic process in this country.
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