SESI TAKLIMAT MEDIA

YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PERDANA MENTERI  

BERSAMA  

KETUA PENGARANG

MEDIA TEMPATAN DAN ANTARABANGSA  

17 DISEMBER 2025 (RABU), 5.30 PETANG

KOMPLEKS SERI PERDANA, PUTRAJAYA

 

 

MUKADIMAH:

 

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Salam sejahtera.

 

Pertamanya, mohon ampun dan maaf, sebab first kabinet. Kemudian ada beberapa aspek yang tertangguh. Okay. Itu saya potong semua ucapan saya. Semua fakta sudah tahu, pertumbuhan, pelaburan, semualah. Oleh itu kalau ada soalan silalah.

 

 

SOALAN 1: HANIS IZMIR (BERNAMA)

 

Menjelang tahun 2026, apakah keutamaan Dato’ Seri dalam memastikan kerajaan perpaduan terus stabil dan fokus dengan agenda rakyat?

 

And my second question is, with less than 2 years remaining amid ongoing fiscal reforms and subsidy rationalization, what are your key economic priorities to ensure fiscal discipline is maintained while delivering tangible cost of living relief to the Malaysians? Thank you.

JAWAPAN 1:

 

Terima kasih dalam rencana kita pada 5 Januari, saya akan berikan pengarahan ataupun kenyataan tentang halatuju negara untuk satu tahun dan berikutnya.

 

Tapi untuk hari ini saya nak sebut bahawa tiga tahun masa kita consolidate kerajaan stabil kita hadapi sesetengah masalah kebimbangan tentang ketidakstabilan dan sebagainya dan kita mula melangkah untuk memperkenalkan beberapa undang-undang yang agak  menjurus ke arah reform, Fiscal Responsibility Act dan Rationalisasi Subsidi dan lain-lain.

 

Saya rasa sudah sampai ketikanya untuk mulai tahun depan ini, kita langkah dengan lebih berani lagi isu-isu tertangguh yang dianggap lebih sensitif atau kontroversial, kita kena berdepan dengan lebih tegas dan berani ini termasuk soal keberkesanan badan-badan penguatkuasa dan ketegasan dalam ambil tindakan tapi juga ketegasan dalam memastikan proses dan peraturan dipatuhi sebab itu saya bangga dengan langkah hari ini yang agak julung-julung kali berlaku bila peguam negara memutuskan, kita tidak pertahankan apa-apa salah laku jenayah besar dalam negara kita tapi tegas dalam soal ketelanjuran termasuk mengkaji kemungkinan pendakwa, pesalah-pesalah dan soal penembakan di Melaka bawah 302 ini bagi saya tidak sering berlaku dalam keadaan sebelumnya ini penting kita pulihkan keyakinan kepada institusi dalam negara kita. Begitu juga dalam proses yang pelaksanaan lainnya SPRM, LHDN dan sebagainya bukan sahaja pelaksanaan itu lebih tegas dan berkesan tapi proses itu dihormati.

 

Kemudian isu-isu kaum dan agama kemudian soal bahasa, soal ekonomi itu kita akan hadapi dengan lebih tegas, tidak betul langsung kena suara-suara sumbang umpamanya pelantikan Jemaah Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan tidak semestinya bila ada Menteri Cina, dia akan menindas Melayu dan Menteri Melayu yang bertanggungjawab pengarah jabatan Wilayah Persekutuan Melayu, Datuk Bandar Melayu bekerja sebagai pasukan, ada keperluan bantu semua kaum.

 

Jadi, itu saya sedia maklum bila kita melantik ini jadi seolah-olah Melayu terabai dan Cina diserah Kuala Lumpur, bagaimana kepentingan dalam negeri? Menteri dan Timbalan Menterinya Melayu. Apakah dengan cara ini kita menindas India dan China? Ada juga melampau India yang cakap bahawa sekarang ini India tidak boleh berjalan di sebelah malam kerana keselamatan mereka terancam.

 

Ada pandangan-pandangan begitu tapi pandangan-pandangan orang yang kurang siuman, yang tidak memperdulikan soal kestabilan negara dan keamanan negara. Saya tidak lihat KDN itu sebagai markas Melayu atau badan pertahanan atau Kementerian Pembangunan Desa dan Wilayah.

 

Jadi, pendekatan yang ini kita harus hadapi dengan berani kita tidak akan begini. What I’m saying is in this narrative you continue to use this race, God or color we’ll never get anywhere. So it’s time for us to be just fare I tried to do so in the issue of language, why can’t all of us respectively you’re promoting English or Chinese, UEC or Tamil.

 

Start by reaffirmation of our commitment to enhance the level of proficiency and command of the Malay language then you get everybody to understand then as I’ve said earlier, what is the importance of English? But you see the narrative in the polemics is still very skewed to one particular race.

 

Not only the Malays, even the Chinese or some Indians naturally why can’t we think as Malaysians language to succeed in this country? Bahasa the importance of English which cannot be underestimated, 2026 is not 1950s as a trading nation globalization we need to enhance the same with the issue of Chinese or Tamil or Arabic.

 

Now if Chinese come to UEC yes, but within that broad parameters which means the commitment to enhance our history and our language then proceed to me UEC is a secondary issue it’s not a problem issue of recognition UEC I emphasize it’s not an issue if seen in this broad context of the role of bahasa, enhancement of English as a language and Chinese schools or independent schools that respect the need to understand our history and our language that’s it then you have UEC I don’t have a problem with that.

 

You can have other systems French system, English system, American system it does not it’s not an issue but look at it as Malaysians in the broader context but still you can see the debate is still skewed to a religion Anwar one group says Anwar oppose UEC. The other say Anwar is conceding to the Chinese demand to the DAP Demand nothing to do with DAP you follow my trajectory my life on DEB I’m not promoting my book but I’ve said this partly yes, you know I’m consistent in that.

 

So I would need your understanding and support because otherwise what has transpired in the media all seems will invariably influence the outlaw and thinking of many of our people but what else can I say? Is it wrong for me to emphasize the importance of Bahasa? It’s 2025 coming 2026 what can we talk to all of us level of proficiency all streams you can have Chinese language you can have UEC but can you say it’s not a matter of lose? Oh, we pass 96% pass SPM better than national schools.

 

Yes, of course you ask the national schools of Manik Urai to Kapit of course you can’t compete with best schools. To me it’s not an issue it’s important to get all streams to understand if it is done, they say well, many of these Chinese independents will observe fair I don’t have a problem get it done and we proceed.

 

Of course you have to battle again the moment you say UEC there’ll be broad spectrum of Malay crowd they use hey will use this against us under the terms of the control of the DAP.

 

So but so be it this will be the new line for next year. We need a lot of courage of course we need effective communications. The major criticism is that our communication team is not that strong I’ve already reminded the Fahmi know that he is retained as Minister of communications.

 

You consult your, you must consult you guys. You’re supposed to be the experts so give your views so that we are more effective in our communication not propaganda It’s not a propaganda machinery just telling what is actually at stake in this country. What we are doing and possibly even our limitations what we have not done I’m fair I’ve always considered ourselves a team that’s been struggling time to do our best but we have our limitations, probably mistakes even.

 

The difference is we are able to we can easily accept that and we are in the position to try and improve it’s not a matter of just facing the elections but I think more critical this fabric of this nation the because whatever is being done you see past statements on Wilayah Persekutuan you want to be a national party working with the people you can express “Hana can you assure us they will protect the interest of the Malay poor?” I can accept that but to reject a person because of her color or race this is atrocious in these days and age and sometimes I can’t understand the level of tolerance of some of our people.

 

When the groups are blatantly or possibly considered most corrupt in decades they get away because of the sympathy. Okay cukup, I’m not angry I’m just expressing I’m just expressing a point. Thank you.

 

SOALAN 2: FARRAH NAZ KARIM (NEW STRAITS TIMES)

 

Assalamualaikum Dato’ Seri, congratulations on your reshuffle yesterday. Dato’ Seri, if it’s not too much to ask, would you mind sharing with us the thinking behind the changes of every single Minister and Deputy Minister and the dropping of the three?

 

JAWAPAN 2:

 

So, reshuffle means you cannot drop? No. If you see the overall scenario, you can see the placement of new people are mainly young. You have Taufiq (YB Dr. Mohammed Taufiq bin Johari), Akmal (YB Tuan Haji Akmal Nasrullah bin Mohd Nasir), Mustapha (YB Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud), the younger crowd, Arthur (YB Dato’ Sri Arthur Joseph Kurup), relatively much younger.

 

Second, third generation, I think most of them in their 40’s and Taufiq is 29 and the rest is in their 30’s. I think it’s time that we project that. Why? I wasn’t able to do that initially because we want to make sure that the coalition can be fortified and consolidated. But now, I think we are strong. So, I think let them have their chance.

 

Dato Na’im did his best, he works hard, he tries, he set his agenda for the religious institutions, okay. But I think it’s time that he serves other functions and a younger team to be more forceful, more inclusive in that sense.

 

Similarly, Zaliha. Zaliha has been strong in the party from the beginning, and as Menteri Wilayah has worked very hard, broke some of the cartels among the traders and petty traders. And that took a lot of guts, and she did well. But I thought she would also understand that I have limitation, I can’t go on expanding the numbers. So, I need to make sure that she continues some of her advisory role and then get the new faces in. And as you have seen, I don’t replace by some of the established close friends of my generation or the later generation. It’s really a young team. That personally, even within KEADILAN, not too close to me too, but a much younger team. But I thought they should be given a chance. It’s time that this regeneration process continues. Okay.

 

You don’t look too happy. You must be very close to Zaliha. Zaliha is very close to Azizah, you can understand my predicament.

 

SOALAN 3: SEIICHI OSHIMA (JIJI PRESS)

 

There will be an ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the 22^nd on next Monday, and could you explain a bit about the reason why you propose to organize the meeting, and what’s your instruction to THE Foreign Minister, and what do you expect from the meeting?

 

JAWAPAN 3:

 

Thank you. I don’t give instructions to the Foreign Ministers but you see, we are in communications virtually daily. Not today, except today I have not called both, and although Prime Minister of Cambodia waiting for my call.

 

We are in communications. We are appealing to them to immediately stop these frontline offensives and, if possible, immediate ceasefire. Although they don’t like the term ceasefire because it would connote their agreement. So, if you look at my statement, I said “I urge the parties to observe these truce”. And then following that, of course, President Donald Trump called and then updated me. And I told President Donald Trump that it is important to convince them to then just stop the offensive. That’s it.

 

Then we fixed a date for the Foreign Ministers then both the Prime Ministers alerted me and they said probably it’s a bit too soon because there’s no point meeting before they are able to slow down the tension, then ease the tension. So, the proposal is to have on 22^nd in Kuala Lumpur. So, from my understanding, the Foreign Ministers will come deliberate on this, so they will know the facts. Our duty is to present the facts. But more important is to impress upon Thailand and Cambodia that is imperative to secure peace and to seek the advice of Thailand and Cambodia of what else do we need to do. They agreed on AOT, ASEAN Observer Team that our Chief of Defense Force, Chief of the Armed Forces will be leaving for the border in the next few days, even to, you know, continue to engage.

 

So, at different levels, I speak to both Prime Ministers and President Donald Trump. The Foreign Ministers communicate at the level, the Chief of Armed Forces at the level. So, we are continuing. I’m, as you say, cautiously optimistic because when I speak to both the Prime Ministers, both are keen to achieve an amicable resolution as soon as possible. So, hopefully by 22^nd we can seal this sort of understanding. But this is for Thailand and Cambodia to agree.

 

 

SOALAN 4: ZUNAIRA SAIEED (THE NEW YORK TIMES)

 

Dato’ Seri, just want to ask you a question on there has been a lot of cases on public morality lately. We had a Malaysian girl group banned where their video was pulled down because the Religious Affairs Minister said that they were wearing too sexy clothes. And then recently there was mother and daughter who was denied service at the police station. So why are government officials behaving this way?

 

JAWAPAN 4:

 

Part of it we have resolved, for example this issue of police reports and we discussed it again today. To me it’s not right to deny any person. For example, your house being burnt or somebody is trying to kill your family members and then you say “go back and get dressed and come back”.

 

It just doesn’t make sense. So there have been an instruction from Minister of Home Affairs, the Police Chief and the Chief Secretary. So, hopefully this is clear. This also relates to our understanding of religion. Some of the extremist voices would want demand certain things that would portray more Islamic. You do that, but the context is never understood. Of course, you ask me some people coming to my office. I mean, I don’t want to come in bikini. Nobody have tried that yet. I don’t know, Ashwad can bring somebody from Astro Awani or whatever. No, I’m joking.

 

You know, police report for a girl to come to lodge a police report, something critical. They just don’t come in as a part of leisure. So that part has been resolved.

 

Similarly, when it comes to issue of some of these popular cultures, of course you must appreciate that probably in our society some form of code is understandable. I mean, I’m not suggesting that we are too liberal to the extent you can wear anything. No. But I think we shouldn’t overstretch this and I think the general consensus to advise the Minister and authorities too.

 

Once you can give certain guidelines. But I don’t think you’d be like moral police or so to the extreme. I agree. But you know, it’s very appreciative. If you sound a bit too conciliatory or too tolerant, you’ll be attacked by another factor. Finally, you have to draw the line to see that if it’s really excessive, then probably.

 

I mean, it’s not new. Even before, for example, we have strongly discouraged shows during Maghrib time, for example, which is fair. People accept that you can start at 7:30PM, prayer time is 7:10PM. You start at 7:30PM. People do accept that. But you overstretch to for them you’re going to wait for after Isha. Then you start at 9:00. Things like that. There must be a limit. Because Maghrib is limited time, 7PM to 8PM, for example. Isha from 8PM to 4PM in the morning.

 

So, I don’t think you should cross that. So, this is where I think the authorities must not be too overboard. All these things. I agree. And I think for next year we have to make it very clear. There must be some. After all, if you don’t want to go, don’t go la. You tak mahu tengok. Dulu I ingat masa I was Minister of Education. I think the programme was Sheila Majid in University of Malaya. So, the pro-PAS guys demonstrated, start throwing flower pots. And so, I said to them, number one, you throw flower pot and break, you have to pay for it. Number two, you don’t like Sheila Majid? Don’t go. Don’t go.

 

So, there must be but to ban the show, that’s ridiculous. By the way, I follow “Lagenda”, I know the song, so I’m not complaining. But as an example, it’s not new. This was I’m talking about 1987-1988 when I was at Education Minister. So, there were tough. Of course, the university that suspended them. I gave them a reminder that the sentence are a bit too harsh.

 

So, this is an example that you must draw the line. But you concede this sort of like a Taliban culture pun tak boleh juga. So, there must be some measure of tolerance. I can understand if it’s shown somewhere in some villages, tak sesuai, tak apa. We have to navigate this carefully. But I agree with you. I don’t think that we should push the agenda too far. And Ministers, including Religious Affairs Department must realise that dakwah means to encourage them, to talk to them, to make them understand, not everything through punitive action and legislation.

 

 

SOALAN 5: DATIN PADUKA ESTHER NG SEK YEE (THE STAR)

 

Dato’ Seri, two questions. With the reshuffle, are you saying that you are very satisfied with the… I’m choosing my words very carefully, are you very satisfied with the performance of the ministers who are holding on to their current positions?

 

Number two, I want to ask about the Malaysian Media Council. One of the main agendas of the council is to self-regulate. Do you agree that with the setting up of the Media Council, the media are more shackled in a way because now we have the code of conduct, committee of which both me and Farah are heading.

 

Because now, apart from the council, we still have PPA, we still need licensing, we have to adhere to MCMC rules as well. There are so many rules, defamation lagi kan. I’m just wondering what are your plans?

 

JAWAPAN 5:

 

You always ask difficult questions. The first one, Cabinet. Of course, nobody is perfect and I said this in the first cabinet meeting. We have the humility to acknowledge our weaknesses and the growing expectations of the public that we improve ourselves and try and excel that. Having said that, am I fully satisfied with the performance? I mean, they can ask about me too. I have also my limitations, given the chance if I have full authority, I would certainly do it differently but I’m in a coalition. I want to make sure that the government is stable. It’s also important.

 

This is some people clamouring with them absolutely for or voicing the interest of one party. They forget the fact that they are in the coalition, you know. You have to build that consensus, maybe draw the line, governance, no corruption. Okay, fair, but then to insist on this peace, reform, to satisfy everyone is very difficult.

 

I did give an example, language. The one factor in the Dungun and Bangsar crowd that one just English or on the conservative belt, they’re just Malay, nothing else. And there’s one of course in the Chinese schools once we see. So you have to really navigate that understanding.

 

You can be a champion of one group and destroy that sort of coalition spirit, which is also to me critical but what I think your sense that are we fully satisfied? Nobody should be fully satisfied with their own performance. In all humility, I have to acknowledge.

 

That’s why I say after three years now we have to go to the fast track, faster pace, more effective reforms, okay? People expect that. Okay, people say right, first year, okay lah. Stability, second year, okay, you start reform, third year now. Now, we expect you to do more.

 

I concede. But you know, coalition is a coalition, is still… like for example, it’s like putting the Chinese minister of Wilayah which to me is inconsequential because she represents the government, the policy. She doesn’t represent DAP, she represents government. I don’t represent KEADILAN in government. The policies are going to be broad-based, so we have to grapple with this. That’s number one.

 

Number two, about the media. I agree, I mean the whole idea of having this council is to give more space towards freedom, towards media freedom but as always, we say unbridled freedom.

 

I mean, you go and accuse people, I mean, I mean, people ask, oh, Anwar, why are you not taking up cases? People say, I’m Israeli agent. I mean, do you allow that? Oh, then I have to then sue.  So you want me to spend half my life as Prime Minister in the courts.

 

So what do I do? I just lodge a report and the police takes the reaction. It’s not freedom. People criticize me every day. I don’t take action. They attack now on the appointment, the ministers, I mean, to me it is a political affair. We will have reserved our right to reply and respond.

 

So the code of conduct I think should not be. I’m not familiar with the details, but I agree with you. It should not be seen to be too restrictive to the whole idea of media freedom. Because the whole idea of media freedom, as I understand from the beginning, is to ensure that they feel responsibility, they manage themselves and they know the limits. Fair. But I agree with you, it should not be perceived or more so, affect this whole vision of freedom, media freedom position or policy that we strongly urge. Alright.

 

 

 

SOALAN 6 : ZAMRI RAMBLI (SINAR HARIAN)

 

Assalamualaikum Dato’ Seri saya ada dua soalan. Soalan pertama, since hari ini adalah IMBASAN 2025 mungkin satu soalan yang saya nak tanya ialah bagaimana Dato’ Seri merangkumkan tahun 2025 daripada perspektif Dato’ Seri lah sebagai Perdana Menteri, memenatkan, mencabar lebih baik pada 2024 ataupun yang macam mana lah daripada Dato’ Seri.

 

Soalan kedua berkenaan dengan reshuffle juga lah bagaimana harapan Dato’ Seri ataupun KPI yang Dato’ Seri letakkan untuk Kabinet baru ini memandangkan mungkin ini adalah Kabinet yang akan mendepani next election lah. Itu dua soalan Dato’ Seri, terima kasih.

 

JAWAPAN 6:

 

Soalan pertama Kalau 2025 saya ingat kita lihat pada fakta dan langkah apa dasar utama kita tentang reform Parlimen belum pernah Parlimen dengan jawatankuasa penglibatan pembangkang sepertimana kita lakukan sekarang.

 

Kemudian tanggungjawab fiskal, bila Menteri Kewangan menyerahkan kepada Parlimen pertanggungjawaban. Kemudian, undang-undang yang banyak dipelopori oleh Azalina sebagai Menteri itu sangat bermakna bukan satu, tujuh, lapan dan untuk berikutnya beberapa undang-undang yang disebut Freedom of Information, Whistleblowers dan sebagainya.

 

Kemudian, dasar ekonomi selain daripada pelaburan, pertumbuhan semua itu kita ada yang 2025 kita berjaya kerana penyasaran subsidi yang tidak membebankan rakyat tetapi mendatangkan hasil dan mengelak daripada ketirisan, itu besar.

 

Dibincang oleh Menteri dan Perdana Menteri sejak 20 tahun lebih dah dengan subsidi tidak ada yang berani buat yang kita lakukan dan ini menyebabkan kita selamatkan wang banyak dan kita pula tidak ambil pendekatan yang dicadangkan oleh beberapa kononnya pakar ekonomi yang suruh naik harga minyak, tak naik, ini hanya untuk orang asing. Kemudian, ada beberapa yang lain.

 

Jadi saya angka-angka pertumbuhan, tapi, concern ialah tentang pendapatan rakyat ini kita mulakan dengan Penjawat Awam, kenaikan yang paling tinggi dalam sejarah. GLICs, gaji minimum RM3,000 – RM3,100 untuk semua GLICs. Jadi kita tekankan supaya sektor swasta juga sambut gaji minimum daripada RM1200 naik RM1700, ini tidak mudah, saya pernah cuba naik, tidak berani nak naik kerana bantahan daripada konglomerat, peniaga besar.

 

Baik, apakah kita puas hati? Kos-kos sara hidup memang ada betul kita kata international phenomena, tapi kita cuba jalankan macam kita buat Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, STR, Tunai Rahmah dengan SARA itu RM15 bilion, sumbangan kembali kepada rakyat kerana untuk menampung kos sara hidup.

Cukup? Belum. Tetapi ini langkah-langkah yang diambil yang belum diambil sebelumnya. Jadi apa kekuatan kita ketimbang pembangkang dia boleh bicara, tetapi masa dia ada kuasa, dia tidak buat ini selalu nasihat saya kepada pembangkang dan orang-orang yang telah bersara Mantan Perdana Menteri, Mantan Menteri.

 

Cabaran terbesar adalah masa kita ada kuasa, masa ini buat. Kamu dah jadi Menteri, Timbalan Menteri, Perdana Menteri masa kamu berkuasa, apa yang kamu buat? Sekarang kamu berleter sana, mengeluh sini komen sana sini, boleh, ini negara bebas. Kamu boleh suarakan tetapi orang tanya, yang kamu buat apa? Jadi ini yang saya cabar pimpinan kita iaitu masa kita ada kuasa masa inilah buat sebaik mungkin.

 

Jadi untuk 2025 itu dia, rencana kita ialah dan peringatan Menteri dengar dan yang munasabah cuba selesaikan dan biarlah bagi gambaran yang agak sopan Menteri-Menteri ini dan dengar dengan baik dan cuba perbaiki prestasi kita. Itu yang saya nasihatkan petang tadi.

 

 

SOALAN 7: NORMAN GOH (NIKKEI)

 

In 2025 you have often argued that ASEAN must remain central and proactive amid global fragmentation. And you’ve also called for ASEAN reforms and all that. 2025, not an easy year for you, but it also showed a successful ASEAN championship.

 

And now faced with another difficulties with Thai in Cambodia. Looking back, you know, how do you look and do you where do you think that ASEAN demonstrated real agency where structural limits most evident? That’s question number one.

 

Question number two. Malaysia’s economic indicators have shown really good numbers as well. Ringgit has strengthened the highest in the four and a half years. We are also one of the largest when it comes to certain markets.

 

Are you ready to call for a General Election next year? Since the numbers are doing pretty well for you. Thank you, Dato’ Seri.

 

JAWAPAN 7:

 

Oh, ASEAN. I think ASEAN, the team, Cabinet Ministers, Civil Servant, the private sector, we played, I mean all of us as a team played a wonderful role. We had very meaningful successful ASEAN — GCC — China, ASEAN plus in other countries, conference.

 

We were at least able to a large extent, to try and contain the escalation of the rift between Thailand and Cambodia. Although it’s still continuing, but we continue to engage. As I said, I remain optimistic by the 22^nd (of December) it will be more meaningful results. The outcome of the meeting, Foreign Ministers Meeting. That’s as far as ASEAN is concerned.

 

But, ASEAN as you know, is a loose gathering of governments in the region. We have some meaningful things like digital connectivity, power grid. These are major intra-ASEAN trade. The commitments are there.

 

The elections, we still have a long way to go. I have not thought about elections. I am now focusing on how do we continue to implement reforms and alleviate the problems faced by the rakyat, particularly with the higher cost of living. Those are the two central focus for next year. And I think although things are relatively better now, it will be better later. Insya-Allah. Thank you.

 

SOALAN 8: EBRAHIM HARRIS (AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE)

 

Good evening Dato’ Seri, Ebrahim Harris from Agence France-Press. I want to go back to the question of Thailand and Cambodia and just ask a little bit more about the engagement that is up and coming next Monday. Could you please tell us a little bit more about what that engagement will look like?

 

And you also said that the facts will be laid on the table for the two parties. What will be laid on for them, given the fact that Thailand also earlier in the week, I believe, said that it’s up to Cambodia to propose the ceasefire first because they were the aggressors, according to Thailand. And I just wanted to ask you what your position is on that as well?. Thank you.

 

JAWAPAN 8:

 

On the 22^nd (December), at least to the credit of both Thailand and Cambodia, they have agreed to attend. You see, among warring factions, it is always difficult to get people to come and sit and talk. Here, because it is initiated by Malaysia and ASEAN, they have agreed to attend on the 22^nd, and there, the views of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers will be extremely useful to try and persuade both parties.

 

Now, of course, I am not in the position to cast aspersions or blame any party. My consistent urging has always been to ensure that the peace is maintained, even at the first phase, just to get to stop a cessation of hostilities, and following that, to discuss the parameters mid-term and long term for an amicable settlement. Thank you.

 

SOALAN 9: SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST (JOSEPH SIPALAN)

 

I’d just like to do a follow up question to an early question on the Media Council by my colleague Esther. So, considering that the Media Council is supposed to be overseeing how media in Malaysia operates and setting standards for code of conduct and all of that, is the Government considering maybe to repeal older acts like the PPPA and also what some arguably overly broad prescriptions under the MCMC Act that limits how the media can operate? Especially considering you have already existing laws like Sedition Act and Defamation to deal with whatever issues that are deemed not correct. Thank you.

 

JAWAPAN 9:

 

Let me be very frank here. I mean, we leave it to the Media Council to give this advice. But what are the set parameters? You must enhance the level of freedom, media freedom in this country. What are the limitations? Still, the race, religious card. To me people say, well, Anwar is not consistent, it’s not true. Majority is something else that’s beyond us. They have insisted that since they are not players, they can respond as other politicians can. So, they want to be given that reprieve. But we continue to use every single issue from race card. These people should be questioned.

 

Never mind what laws, what amended laws, because to my mind, you can talk about freedom, you can talk about economic growth, but I don’t want to sacrifice that for this country. It sounds reactionary, but I want to use this also to condone some unnecessary actions. I mean there have been some cases where the police took action and I’ve advised them don’t. When it comes to for example, burning Anwar’s photo or calling Anwar, “Turun Anwar”, whatever I said let it be. But of course, there is a limit. When you say you go, as I said just now, he has AIDS, he’s a paid agent of Israel. I mean there are also some limits.

 

So, I think whilst we should not use these instances to curb freedom, okay. Which means the Media Council has this task of advising them on where are the specific legislation or parts of the legislation or provisions that inhibit freedom. You can advise. Now we’ll certainly convey this cabinet and to YB Fahmi to take up seriously the recommendations.

 

But of course, we need some very responsible media too, you know. Because everybody’s competing and they can be champion of their various racist affections. It can be nasty for the country. We went through hell. People tend to forget the fact that this is a multi-racial, multi-religious country. So, allow us some space. But you must also draw the line. Is this a statement to curb? No. But at least to recommend to us. What are the limits? You tell us. It’s not the Ministry of Home Affairs. Let the Media Council advise us what you think should be the line to be drawn.

 

 

SOALAN 10: NETTY ISMAIL (BLOOMBERG NEWS)

 

My name is Netty Ismail. I’m from Bloomberg News. I just have a question about PETRONAS. The dividend payout to the government is falling. How concerned is the government about this? And do you expect this trend to continue? That the dividends will continue to fall? And what are the new sources of revenue that you’re looking at to bolster the government’s coffers? Thank you.

 

 

JAWAPAN 10:

 

PETRONAS, as I said is commercial entity. The dividend is according to the performance in the price of petroleum. So, I think we have to accept reality, the country, in order to move forward cannot be too dependent on PETRONAS offers.

 

So we’ll have to bear with it. We have to create new business entities that could generate more revenue for the government, of course, because we want more dividend but you have to look at the price. What’s happening in the global scenario or the oil and gas industry.

 

SOALAN 11 : ARDI HERMAN BIN MOHD MARDZI (TV AL-HIJRAH)

 

Bagaimana Dato’ Seri anticipate progress ke arah pemulihan dan keamanan di Gaza dalam keadaan sekarang ini kita tahu gencatan senjata agak rapuh. There are series of killings on going sejauh mana Dato’ Seri lihat Malaysia akan terus berunding dengan negara-negara Arab, GCC, US, Turki dan sebagainya at the same time menyokong terus gerakan seperti Sumud Nusantara? That’s all, thank you.

 

JAWAPAN 11:

 

Terima kasih. Gaza, sebelum itu mengenai Gaza ada macam kita bantu Aceh. Kita bagi 500 ringgit, bagi pelajar yang hilang rumah, hilang harta, hilang buku semua di kampung. Itu pun jadi isu kepada setengah-setengah pihak you know? Saya susah nak faham kemanusiaan apa yang ada. Oh kerana orang kita ada miskin, oh kerana dia Melayu… ada. Ini saya kata bebas, tapi sikap hilang nilai kemanusiaan seperti ini. Saya sebagai anak Malaysia, saya rasa terganggu, terkesan sikit, apa dia masalah? kalau kita bagi ratus juta, satu hal. Ini mungkin cecah ratus ribu atau satu, dua juta, you know? Itulah keadaan.

 

Macam Gaza itu sampai sekarang saya dengar di Semenanjung, di Sabah, di Sarawak, ‘you know Anwar? You know? Feeding people in Gaza I mean… dana yang kita bagi dalam dua tahun, tiga tahun baru RM100 juta dan walaupun ada inisiatif perdamaian oleh Presiden Donald Trump tapi kita tahu pelanggaran itu berterusan, ratusan pelanggaran perjanjian dilakukan oleh rejim Israel. Anak kecil wanita masih terus dibunuh yang kebanyakannya masjid dan juga gereja dimusnahkan. Apa? Takkan tidak boleh bersuara? Takkan bagi bantuan menjadi masalah?

 

Jadi saya akan teruskan. Ada inisiatif dari Presiden Abdul Fattah El-Sisi dari Mesir untuk minta kita turut menjadi Co-convener Sidang Pemulihan dan Pembangunan Gaza. Tentunya pada dasar kita setuju tapi sidang itu masih tertangguh kerana akhir tahun sukar mendapatkan korum bagi pemimpin-pemimpin dunia Arab dan dunia Islam.

 

Tapi saya nak beritahu kita akan terus mendukung sekadar-kadar kita, bantuan kemanusiaan dan suara untuk mempertahankan. Saya dalam Beast itu pun, dalam perbincangan dengan Presiden Trump, saya sebut tentang Gaza. Presiden Trump tak adalah bantah teruk sangat, tapi ada setengah-setengah orang yang lebih Trump daripada Trump di sini, dia marah lebih daripada Trump.

 

Trump, saya beritahu saya sopan dengan penuh hormat tapi beritahu mengapa saya memilih untuk pertahankan hak Gaza dan Palestine dan soal kemanusiaan dan mengapa kita sangat konsisten mendukung. Tak ada pula dia marah, sebab itu putus hubungan… tidak-tidak.

 

Tapi masih kedengaran suara-suara begini dan saya minta maaf kerana saya kurang dapat mengerti apalagi kalau orang itu bercakap soal agama, soal kemanusiaan, tapi tidak ada ihsan dan compassion.

 

Sekali saya ucap terima kasih dan selamat bagi yang merayakan Krismas, itupun ada orang marah juga, cakap tidak boleh Krismas, aku pun tak reti (nada berseloroh).

 

Semangat tahun baru ‘eh, siapa yang cakap tahun baru, bukan tahun baru Islam’… pun salah juga. Jadi nak kata apa? Selamat (nada berseloroh)? No, so maknanya you do what is right. I will still continue to wish orang yang pengamal agama Kristian selamat menyambut Hari Kristian, hari Krismas atau di Indonesia sebagai Hari Natal, kemudian tahun baru.

 

Tak apa kita akan sambut juga tahun baru Islam tapi tahun ini baru, tahun baru Masihi, tahun baru Nabi Isa tak adalah salahnya. Tapi ada orang pertikai tahun baru ke tidak, tak apalah untuk orang lain pertikai, tapi saya nak ucap selamat, terima kasih atas semua kerjasama, dukungan, teguran, kritikan, sanggahan, komplotan dan terima kasih banyak kerjasama yang diberikan dan saya harap kita akan mulakan tahun depan itu dengan lebih jelas pendirian kita, lebih tegas pendirian kita dan lebih berani dalam membawa agenda reform dan juga menjamin kemaslahatan rakyat.

 

Terima kasih.