Anwar is slamming ulamas and political pundits for being inaccurate, superficial, half baked and not fully truthful about criticizing the fuel price hike, but as the proverb goes: paku dulang paku serpih, mengata orang awak yang lebih. ( Note: the pantun is in tribute to the late Karam Singh Walia, who died recently , and who was famous for the pantuns he included in his commentaries ).
“There is a renowned ulama, with many followers, who claimed that news about oil prices increasing was fake, and that it was only in Malaysia.
“His take on the matter is superficial, but because it was interwoven with Quranic and religious teachings, it led many to believe him,” Anwar said when meeting with personnel from the transport ministry.
He did not name the ulama in question, but was believed to be referring to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who had questioned the increase in diesel price in West Malaysia.
After taking potshots at Hadi, Anwar would then train the guns at analysts and pundits who questioned his explanatio
“There are a few political pundits who are quick to comment. They only provide half-truths, which risk becoming absolutes.”
He said fuel prices were influenced by several factors, including global events, and were not solely based on whether a country is an oil-producing nation.
“That’s the reality of the global market,” he added.
He said while key fuel supply routes remained operational and shipments to Malaysia had not been disrupted, overall costs had risen significantly due to increased insurance and transportation expenses.
He said the oil procured before the conflict had been delayed in the Strait of Hormuz and was now being redirected to Pengerang, contributing to the higher costs.
“Insurance premiums have surged by more than 100%, while freight charges have also increased substantially.
“This means that the oil initially expected to be processed at a lower cost in Pengerang is now significantly more expensive.”
I think it is rich for Anwar to criticise others on the subject of being vague and inaccurate because he himself has actually been very vague, not fully truthful, superficial and half baked in his justification of the fuel price hike. All he says is that it is caused by an increase in freight and insurance charges without giving any numbers to substantiate his claims.
He says that the government's fuel subsidy cost has gone up from RM 700 million to 4 billion because of the fuel price spike, but he doesn't tell us how much the government revenue has gone up because of the same fuel price hike.
One week his government is saying that we are a net energy exporting country and the next week it is saying we are a net energy importing country, but he doesn't explain how our import - export status changed in just a week.
It is actually very easy for Anwar to be clear, meaningful, fully truthful and fully baked in his explanation behind the fuel price hike.
All he has to do is just say :
"Before the Iran war happened on February 28, Petronas's cost per month was RM 5 billion while its sales was RM 7 billion. Therefore it made RM 2 billion every month. ( The figures given are an example only )
"After the Iran war, Petronas's cost per month is now RM 20 billion but its sales are just RM 15 billion. Therefore petronas is now suffering a loss of RM 5 billion every month.( Again, the figures given are an example only )
"It is because Petronas is losing every month due to the fuel price hike that our oil price has increased."
If Anwar could just provide us with figures like this, none of us would question why we have to pay more for fuel.
But for a reason that only he knows, Anwar has been stubbornly refusing to give us such a simple, easy to understand and confidence inspiring explanation using numbers, to explain the fuel price hike.
A good advice should be taken before it is given.
If Anwar doesn't like other people being superficial, inaccurate, half baked and half truthful about something, then he of all people should be the first to aim to not be superficial , inaccurate, half baked and half truthful.
If you can't help but call the kettle black, the least you can do is make sure that you are not a pot that is blacker than the kettle.🤦
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