7-8-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is facing criticism for his stern response to a student’s inquiry about the country’s racial quota system. The incident, which unfolded during a dialogue session at Penang Matriculation College on Saturday (August 5), has ignited a public debate and gained traction on social media platforms.
The student had raised the question of whether the student admission quota system would be replaced with a meritocratic approach. In Malaysia, the pro-Bumiputera policy allocates a 90% quota for Bumiputera students for matriculation college enrollment, facilitating their entry into universities.
Anwar interrupted the student twice before reprimanding her for asking a question he claimed to have already addressed at a separate “Meet Anwar” event. He advised her to follow the existing process and then proceeded to explain that such inquiries require an understanding of Malaysia’s history and social contract. He argued that it would be preferable to provide special assistance to exceptional non-Bumiputera students rather than altering the policy.
The Prime Minister further asserted that eliminating the racial quota system would result in his Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and its ally, the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, losing all elections in Malaysia. He cautioned that this outcome would lead to governance by PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) and Bersatu (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia), suggesting a less favorable scenario for the student.
“We will lose all the elections in this country and you will suffer more in this country. Run by PAS and Bersatu. Do you understand that?” Anwar stated. He emphasized the potential consequences of accommodating the demands of extremists and warned against the shift.
The video of this exchange quickly circulated on social media, prompting mixed reactions from the public. Some users criticized Anwar’s manner of speaking, labeling him as a bully and expressing concerns about the way he addressed the student.
However, others defended Anwar, highlighting the student’s voting eligibility under the Undi 18 amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18. They argued that Anwar’s response was warranted, given that the student was an adult participant in the discussion.
The video’s widespread dissemination across social media platforms has sparked a broader conversation about leadership communication and the appropriate handling of public inquiries. The incident has also shed light on differing opinions within the Malaysian population regarding the interaction between political leaders and citizens.
In response to the controversy, Anwar dismissed allegations of bullying and affirmed his responsibility to provide a comprehensive explanation to the student’s question. He emphasized that his role as a leader entails addressing such inquiries transparently while upholding the principles of the constitution and public understanding.
