Anwar slams misinformation on oil price hike, urges fact-base discourse

PUTRAJAYA - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has warned that the spread of inaccurate information regarding oil price increases linked to the West Asian conflict is misleading the public and obscuring the true situation.

He criticised certain quarters, including politicians, for making irresponsible statements that confuse rather than inform.

"There are comments from some politicians who speak hastily, offering half-truths and presenting them as absolute facts.

"They have only a partial understanding but attempt to portray their views as definitive,” he said when speaking at the Transport Ministry’s monthly assembly here today.

Also present were Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.

Anwar stressed that while everyone has the right to express opinions, such views must be grounded in accurate facts.

"We have the right to criticise and offer counter-views. However, we do not have the right to make judgments based on incorrect or misleading information,” he said.

He also took issue with attempts by some parties to distort facts by framing them using religious arguments.

"This reflects a superficial understanding cloaked in religious references, which may appear convincing but ultimately misleads the public,” he added.

Previously, Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang claimed that the people were being "deceived” by the government following the rise in oil prices in Peninsular Malaysia, while questioning why similar measures were not implemented in Sabah and Sarawak.

In a statement issued yesterday, he argued that there was no strong justification for the price increase, noting that Malaysia is not directly involved in Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. - BERNAMA