PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on all parties not to use political differences as a weapon of enmity, but instead come up with suggestions to improve matters.

He said this followed many inaccurate facts and slanders on social media by a few parties about the government’s efforts to help the people.

Anwar said ministries and agencies need to responsibly channel the correct information to the public.

He said recently the demarcation agreement signed between him and Indonesian President Jokowi (Joko Widodo) was raised, and although the matter has already been answered in Parliament, it is still being questioned with various accusations such as selling the country’s dignity. 

“This matter was hotly disseminated on social media with lies and slanders. We cannot turn these political differences into a weapon of enmity or slander. We need to use these differences to give better proposals, I have yet to hear any better suggestions,” he said at the launch of Sentuhan Kasih Desa in Nilai.

Present at the ceremony this morning were Deputy Prime Minister cum Rural and Regional Development Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun and Defence Minister Mohamad Hasan.

The prime minister once again explained that the increase in the average electricity tariff only involves those with a consumption of more than 1,500 kilowatts, thus not burdening the less able. 

“Regarding the reduction in the electricity subsidy, they (the opposition) said we are burdening the people, this reduction was actually for 1,500 kWh users. Who made the decision to raise it in the first place? The previous government (Perikatan Nasional) made that decision, and there is black and white on that, he said.

“Ordinary people, civil servants, are not included in the category of having to pay higher electricity rates. We took this step so that the money is returned to the people through aid such as Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and eBelia Rahmah on June 26,” he said.

Apart from that, Anwar said the cabinet has decided not to increase the government’s debt because it understands the impact it will bear in the future.

“The debt is more than RM1 trillion and needs to be resolved in a year or two. It is not easy, but we will try to do it, The government is shouldering a 5.6% deficit. In cabinet, we decided not to have any more debt,” he said. – Bernama, June 24, 2023.