[UPDATED] Anwar-Najib debate ‘precursor’ that sets tone for GE15: analysts

KUALA LUMPUR – The debate between opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday evening did not result in a “clear winner” but has chartered a course for the political direction of the next general election, said political analysts.

The analysts said while there were no victors in yesterday’s clash, the debate has some influence on voter sentiment in the upcoming polls.

Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun indicated that high-level political debates like these are uncommon but should be encouraged in order to encourage maturity in Malaysian democracy and politics.

“Having a debate culture is better than nothing, as the common folk can at least enjoy some degree of self-comforting spectatorship, while the real politics is in tussle among the elites.”

On Najib’s contention for a bailout of Sapura Energy Bhd, he said it is rather “curious” as to why the former prime minister is fixated on rescuing the company.

“After the whole 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Bhd) saga, it would make sense to be extremely cautious when serious allegations were made by Rafizi against Sapura Energy. Some sort of forensic accounting should be performed.

“After the series of scandals, including 1MDB, it is patently unclear that (things such as) proceeds of GST (goods and services) would go to development instead of other more nefarious use.”

Azmi Hassan, a political observer from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, said such debates involving top politicians are a “good sign” for Malaysia.

“This means that the debaters need to be articulate with their facts and figures. If this is the norm and is accepted by the general population, it shows a sign of a maturing democracy.”

He said shifting towards debates for evaluating candidates is a welcome move as campaigning is “no longer about rhetoric, or one-way suggestions without rebuttal”.

However, unlike Oh, Azmi believed Najib had a slight edge as the former prime minister had experience in the top post.

“The former prime minister used all the statistics, experience, and data to put forth his points. What worries me is that Datuk Seri Anwar did not try to contradict Najib’s data, especially on the Gini (index).”

Azmi also said Anwar’s standing in the debate was affected by Lembah Pantai MP and PKR communication chief Fahmi Fadzil posing a question to his boss.

“I’m sure it is not planned, but Fahmi is seen as from the same camp as Anwar. Posing a question to Anwar (by Fahmi) did a great disservice (to Anwar).”

Universiti Utara Malaysia’s Prof Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said the debate had caught national attention as it was more on best economic practices, instead of politics.

He said Anwar raised fundamental issues such as integrity, and the well-being of the people while Najib highlighted his transformational approach to governance.

“We can see the perspectives of the two leaders, and how they will bring about the direction of Malaysia’s economy if given the chance (to govern),” Azizuddin, who attended the debate, told Astro Awani.

“If we talk about who won (the debate), I feel that the people have won because they got to see the two going face to face. They might have debated in Parliament, but we have not seen them openly talk about issues that are of national importance.

“This (debate) allows them (audience) to be able to evaluate who carried better arguments. The current model (for the debate) is a good one.

“I hope that it is a starting point for the process of maturing Malaysia’s democracy, especially ones based on issues, important policies for the country and not trivial matters.”

He added that while it is a good platform, there are those who felt it was done for political mileage.

Last night, some 400 were at the Malaysia Tourism Centre here starting 7pm, including government and opposition lawmakers, party members, academics, journalists and members of the public.

Interestingly, chants of “reformasi” rang loud within the hall during the arrivals of Najib and Anwar. Tensions were tangible to the point that the emcee for the night had to remind the crowd that the day’s agenda is for a silent debate, which bars chanting, cheering, and applause.

For the most part of the 90-minute event, Anwar highlighted root causes and the need for transparency and more accountability while Najib attempted to table solutions to the country’s economic woes.

And although the troubled oil and gas company Sapura Energy took centre stage in the first segment of the debate, much of the debate was on the country’s post-Covid-19 recovery, good governance, and nation-building.

Among the highlights of the occasion was Anwar shooting down Najib’s proposal for national oil company Petronas to buy over Sapura Energy, insisting on forensic audits and greater scrutiny of the financially distressed firm.

The debate comes following weeks of taunts and online verbal disputes, initially between Najib and PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, centred around the struggles and financial woes of Sapura Energy.

The exchange triggered a challenge from Rafizi to debate the topic publicly, to which Najib agreed, on the condition that Anwar was made part of the debate. – The Vibes, May 13, 2022