Malaysia Notes

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has challenged the Prime Minister and his deputy to a live debate on July 15 to discuss how to tackle the oil crisis and reduce the local price of petrol and diesel.

He said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak kept saying that there was no way that prices could come down in view of the high international oil prices.
“They don’t know how to bring down the prices.

“I am prepared to take on the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and even the whole Cabinet to debate the matter live on television,” he told a rally to protest the fuel price hike at the Kelana Jaya Stadium.

Anwar is already slated to debate the issue live with Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek on July 15.

“There are some people who ask me ‘Anwar are you sure you can conclusively bring down the fuel prices’. My answer is yes,” he said.

He repeated his belief that if Pakatan Rakyat were to take over the government, they would be able to bring down the oil prices the following day.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said the increase in petrol and diesel price had triggered a total crisis of confidence in the leadership of Barisan Nasional.

He said the Government had pledged reforms in the police, judiciary and the Anti-Corruption Agency but so far nothing had come out of it.

“Last time too, there was corruption but at least things got done. But now there is still corruption but the difference is that things do not get done,” he said.

At the end of the event, a man who tried to climb on stage when Anwar was delivering his speech was cornered and beaten up by supporters.

The man was said to have shouted Anwar’s name before attempting to get close to Anwar.
The day-long event had a carnival-like atmosphere with traders setting up stalls, cultural shows and a concert.

Traders registered brisk business selling food and drinks, T-shirts, CDs, perfumes and souvenirs outside the stadium. There were rock bands and cultural shows and even a lion dance.
The huge turnout did not give the police much trouble and only a few patrol cars were seen at strategic locations.