KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said today that he is willing to go back on his previous decision if that can lessen the burden of the public.
He said there is no reason for him to refrain from flip-flopping on a decision if it could have caused inconvenience initially.
“The old decision was to stop, our decision is to continue. What is the flip-flop?
“If the decision burdens the people Tanjong Karang should raise it, the decision helps the people who is Tanjong Karang trying to be champion for?” Anwar told the Parliament during the Prime Minister’s Question Time.
Anwar was responding to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia's Tanjong Karang MP Datuk Zulkafperi Hanapi who asked why there were “U-turns on several decisions, including those made in relation to the discontinuation of Public Services Department (JPA) scholarships for three healthcare course and on subsidies to purchase eggs and chicken.”
“For JPA, it was an old decision, there are records. I attended the JPA meeting and there were old decisions made to review and stop [scholarships], but when I chaired the meeting with JPA, my decision was to continue.
“Similarly for the question on chicken and eggs, the decision was to end it in June. When it was referred to me, I asked for it to be continued, Raya Haji is near and it will burden the people, so we help the people.
“So the difference is, Tanjong Karang, if not happy with the flip-flop, even if it’s a flip-flop, to help the people I will flip-flop,” Anwar said, which by then sparked a commotion in the House.
Anwar was referring to Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, who announced that subsidies will stop in June.
“Kota Raja said we have to stop subsidies [for chicken and eggs] in June based on an old decision, but Prime Minister Tambun said to continue. So what is the problem?” he said.
On Sunday, Anwar announced that the JPA scholarships in question will continue.
