Malaysia PM’s ‘harsh’ response to student’s question on meritocracy stirs debate; Anwar explains why ethnic quotas cannot be scrapped

The video has since caught the attention of the members of the public on social media, with many calling Mr Anwar a bully for the way he spoke to the student.  

“It is not wrong if we have different opinions … (but) the way Anwar answered (the student) was wrong. He shouldn’t have bullied (the student) like that,” said a netizen on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. 

“The space to speak with the nation’s highest leaders should be celebrated, not (turned into) a battleground.”

Another netizen pointed out that not everyone keeps up with the “Meet Anwar” sessions. 

“(Mr Anwar’s) way of answering the question was honestly quite defensive. Pity this kid. Don’t assume that everyone watches the “Meet Anwar” sessions, dear prime minister,” she said. 

Meanwhile, others on social media have spoken out in Mr Anwar’s defence, saying that the prime minister treated the student as an adult. 

“She is not a little kid, she is an adult who can vote under Undi 18 (Vote 18) in the elections. (Mr Anwar) had to … communicate in an adult way,” said another X user. The Undi 18 amendment bill lowered the voting age in Malaysia from 21 to 18.

Another praised Mr Anwar for answering the question seriously. 

“This is a sensitive matter. Of course, he had to answer seriously and (he) didn’t even answer in a sarcastic or rude manner,” said the netizen.

The video of the interaction has been widely shared and reposted across various social media platforms. One such video posted by Free Malaysia Today (FMT) on X has garnered 10.9 million views since it was posted last Saturday. 

Following the controversy, Mr Anwar on Sunday dismissed the bullying allegations against him. 

He was quoted as saying by FMT that it was his responsibility to provide an explanation to the student’s question.

“I don’t have a problem with people saying that this child shouldn’t have asked that (or that) Anwar replied rudely. It is my responsibility as the ‘father’, so I must be clear to her.

“She had a problem and wanted to ask for a solution, so it is my responsibility to explain regarding the solution but (remind not to) change the principles of the constitution and understanding,” he reportedly said.