The recent debate between Information Minister Shabery Cheek and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on television showed just how twisted and misguided the Malaysian government is.

I found it unbelievable that Shabery Cheek is claiming that the money saved by the government on not subsidising fuel will be used for welfare projects like building schools. This statement is
shocking for two reasons.

First of all, building schools does not come under the classification of welfare. All children go to school regardless whether their parents are beggars or millionaires.

This reminds me of the past Selangor government which used money collected at mosques for zakat (alms for the poor) to repair school structures damaged by flash floods. To claim that construction work is welfare is simply perverted.

Secondly, there is no evidence that money saved on not subsidising the price of fuel is being used for charitable purposes. Take for example the purchase of 14 new Mercedes Benzes by the
Terengganu government recently.

No doubt the Terengganu government is rolling in money after receiving royalties from Petronas. Apparently, wasting the people's money is more the norm than the exception.

Not forgetting the new palace being built for the King costing a staggering RM400 million ringgit.

The debate has shown flaws in the mindset of the Malaysian government. It has shown that the government does not even understand the basic definition of welfare. Anwar Ibrahim was right to highlight the plight of the poor in Malaysia such as the estate workers and the Orang Asli.

He was right to describe the phenomena that dogs Malaysian federal spending known as kebocoran (wastages due to mismanagement, corruption and foolish pursuits of grandeur, also
known as ‘Mahathirism’).

Anwar Ibrahim was right to state that those who will be hurt the most from the sudden and shocking rise in fuel prices will the poorest people in society.

At no time did Anwar Ibrahim deny that fuel prices had to go up but stated it had to be done in a slow, managed and responsible manner.

I feel the debate was too short and ended just as things were warming up. Many areas were not touched such as the other burdens that motorists have to endure in Malaysia such as tolls and the purchase price of the car itself.

Shabery Cheek promised that the money saved on petrol subsidies would be used to help the people.

I hope that this money will not just be used to replace the funds lost through the process of kebocoran (wastage) of already existing tax revenue which was mis-spent on bailouts, mega projects and feel good projects such as space tourism.