Live Debate - DSAI vs Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek

Last night was a remarkable moment. I guess whoever watched the live debate last night could make their own presumption on who is the winner of the debate, based on the points tendered, not on personal attack. Despite facing police interrogation today, DSAI seemed to be calm and bubbly, as opposed to the scurrilous and mouth-foaming Shabby. No wonder some Malaysian considered DSAI as the best orator in Malaysia. He spoke eloquently and the formula presented by him was convincing, which are:-
1) Savings in government expenditure, including the problems of leakage (as he referred to as 'kebocoran'.)
2) Reducing the standby capacity in energy production from 40% to 20% by the Independent Power Producer (IPP).
3) Savings from the special dividend which will be given by Petronas, amounting to RM6 billion (DSAI suggested to save RM 1 Billion).
According to him, the government need to save up RM5 billion to sustain the subsidy and offers RM0.50 cut from the current petrol price.

DSAI had made a good job. He revealed the methods to reduce the oil price from the beginning of the debate, whereas the Shabby kept crapping on the economic recession, blaming the global situation(war in Iraq, possibility of attack in Iran and high demand by China & India). He even flashback to situation in 1974, where DSAI had lead a parade during Allahyarham Tun Razak's reign. Come on laa..This is not a room for personal attack. The speaker/mediator was biased as well. He did mentioned earlier that any personal attack would not be tolerated, but when Shabby go against the rule, he just kept silent.

During the second round, Shabby explained that if the Government keep on giving subsidy, it would benefit the giant company such as Shell,Esso which are operating here. He suggested that instead of giving subsidy, it would be better if the government gives money straightaway to its rakyat. (Is there any sign right now that they are willing to give money to the people?*Lol*). He even fooled himself by comparing Malaysia to Norway, which gives less subsidy, but their country has less corruption compared to Malaysia. DSAI later countered his statement, by stating that Norway's per capita income is 10 times higher than us(It's true, I checked in Wiki today, Norwegian enjoys third-highest GDP per capita in the world). The audience then applauded.

DSAI later explained that Malaysia's net profit for oil production is among the top 100 in the world. When the panel kept reiterating that Petronas contribute a huge sum of profit to our country, DSAI sarcastically said that he did not want to touch on Petronas, instead he wants to question on the funds which had been given to government.

The panel reminiscenced the fuel hike in 2006, where the government had saved 4.3 billion and promised to upgrade the public transport, but they only used 834.75 million out of the saving. The left-over of the money had been questioned. This time, the government can saved up to 13 billion. So what's the government plan for this huge some of saving? Apparently, Shabby twisted his answers, by directing to Venezuela, which the fuel price is 10 cent but their inflation rate is up to 30% and same goes on Iran. He didn't really answered the panel's question. He misled the audience to the recent embarassing concert during the oil hike protest. DSAI brilliantly countered his statement again, claiming that our inflation rate goes higher recently(in June, it's 6%). So, by comparing the ration of oil hike:inflation rate, to Venezuela and Iran, our is even worse!

When it comes to the final question, DSAI asked Shabby, why the hike is so drastic?Why the government broke their promise before the election of not raising the fuel price? Once again, he didn't answered the question. He ostensibly drawed us back to the reformation in 1974 led by DSAI, attacked DSAI personally like he had did during his introduction statement. Poor him, he had drained out of facts and ideas to answer and counter DSAI.

Shabby later questioned DSAI what would happen if Malaysia has run out of oil sources one day, will the PR continues to give subsidy or the price will raise up drastically? First few seconds, DSAI bashed him of not utilizing the opportunity to discuss about oil hike, instead misused the room for personal attack. *Lol*. He later stated that the oil will only run out in 2015 if Petronas stopped their work. He went further by defending Petronas, he only condemned the present government for their inefficient management of the funds. Yesterday, Petronas announced that they will give 6 billion as special dividend to the government. He suggested that the government can use 1 billion out of the dividend to bear the subsidy.

DSAI, although he is not an economic-graduate, he was equipped with facts and figures relating to economic statistic. He revealed to the audience that with every increase of 1 dollar, we will get a profit up to 360 million, and thus we have a huge sum of benefit. Yes, we are the importer and not among the top 20 (as mentioned by Shabby), of course with the current global situation, there would be an increase, but not so drastic until it burdens the rakyat. Shabby, on the other way round, is prepared on the perspective of 'personal attack' and 'sarcastic remarks' only. He came out with less facts and figures compared to DSAI. I bet most of the audience cracked a laughter when he mentioned that "Petronas hebat kerana UMNO". He even fooled himself with stupid jokes mentioning about minyak attar.. Haha,Shabby, now one whole nation know you can be a good comedian, replacing Mr Bean.

The best suggestion from the Panel is that "DSAI ...tak perlulah jadi PM, nasihat sajalah kat kerajaan sekarang..". DSAI sarcastically mentioned that he was there because he is not a PM, and even willing to give suggestions for the government, but is there any willingness on part of our present government to accept his ideas?

Shabby also seems to be lack of approach to defend the government. He keep reiterating the word "populist" and the phrase "unpopular decision". Well, they had ran out of weapon, those words are the only shields to protect them.

Though I preferred DSAI, I would like tender an impartial view here. I personally think that DSAI had given out good points, but he failed to elaborate his convincing views on how to tailored up with the economic recession if we reduced our oil price in this current global recession (Shabby pointed out good question here). Another problem, what if we had ultimately run out of the oil sources during 2015, would he continues to give subsidy or reduces the price drastically? He did not give a lengthy explanation concerning this matter at the end of the debate.

All in all, even the online poll in Malaysiakini proved that DSAI's voters had outnumbered Shabby. Obviously, the BN government had ran out of the high credibility leaders. The left-overs of their supporters are their MPs and loyal supporters (pakcik pakcik dan makcik makcik) who are not exposed to the alternative medias and the ICT. The young generations are wiser to judge who are the better and potential leaders.