Opposition: Anwar delivers 'low-grade movie from blockbuster teaser'

Summary

• Several opposition leaders say there was nothing ‘extraordinary’ about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement today.

• PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari claims it was made to reduce momentum for the upcoming ‘Turun Anwar’ rally.

• Putra Young Women’s wing says Anwar’s one-off RM100 cash aid would not help alleviate the people’s suffering, given the inflationary pressures.

Several opposition politicians have ridiculed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s “extraordinary tribute” announced today, stating it was nothing out of the ordinary.

PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said only the RM100 Rahmah Necessities Aid (Sara) seemed of note; however, he felt it was an attempt to reduce the momentum for the “Turun Anwar” rally slated for Saturday.

“Only the RM100 for all Malaysian adults (worth RM2 billion) seems interesting. The rest are just ordinary announcements which could have been done at any time, especially during the Budget 2026 speech.

“But he had to do it quickly to reduce the momentum leading to the rally on July 26.

“And it’s not reflective of the teaser made earlier, as if the movie has become a blockbuster. Rather, it was a low-grade movie made using pirated software for editing,” the Pasir Mas MP said on Facebook today.

Earlier, Anwar said that the RM100 cash aid would incur an additional RM2 billion in government expenditure this year, thus increasing its allocation for Sara from RM13 billion to RM15 billion.

Apart from the one-off cash aid, Anwar announced that RON95 fuel prices will be lowered to RM1.99 per litre before the end of September.

Additionally, toll prices on 10 highways will not be increased this year, costing Putrajaya RM500 million.

Touching on the RM100 cash aid, Fadhli said RM2 billion in additional expenses to the government has little impact on the nation’s coffers, given Putrajaya is already making a savings worth RM7.5 billion after implementing targeted diesel subsidy measures.

Just 6 sen?

Echoing Fadhli’s sentiments, Perikatan Nasional activist Isham Jalil mocked Anwar, saying the latter could only cut 6 sen from fuel prices as opposed to his earlier big promises.

“For years he had promised, we waited for days for the announcement… only to get a 6 sen reduction.

“PM is basically telling us that RON95 price has been reduced by 6 sen and take the RM100 for shopping during Merdeka,” said the former Umno man on Facebook.

Putra Young Women’s wing chief Nurhafizah Jamalludin chimed in as well, saying that Anwar’s announcement shows the government is disconnected from the rakyat’s plight, describing it as “populist candy” to cover up for policy failures.

“To give RM100 to everyone above the age of 18 is not the right measure. The small sum would only last about a week given the inflationary pressures.

“Besides, the government will rescind egg subsidy beginning Aug 1,” she reminded, adding the masses would not be enticed by it.

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