Social media reacts with anger over PM's behaviour to girl who asked question on meritocracy

Malaysians have taken to social media to criticise Anwar Ibrahim's response to a visibly shaken teenager who had asked whether his government planned to do away with the quota system, with many saying the prime minister acted like a bully to an honest question posed by a young student who did not expect a political answer.

Some of the strongest responses came from human rights activist and writer Tashny Sukumaran, who said Anwar's behaviour amounted to "disgusting bullying".

"Is the PM unable to tell the difference between a political enemy and a young student? Because that's the only explanation for this disgusting bullying. Absolute garbage behaviour," tweeted Tashy, a rights activist who was formerly an analyst with the prominent think tank Institute of Strategic and International Studies.

Her comments were immediately greeted by a series of tweets from government supporters who defended Anwar while condemning the student for asking such a question.

"Life is hard; suck it up and grow. Provocative questions deserve to be answered like that. She ain't a kid!" read one post under the Twitter account Krypto_G, which displayed a profile of Korean dictator Kim Jong Un showing the middle finger.

"If you want to be an adult, then ask and take answers as one," said another government supporter, Kapsterloong.

The student was the last participant to ask Anwar questions during a dialogue session at Kolej Matrikulasi Pulau Pinang in Kepala Batas yesterday, as part of the prime minister's series of engagements with young voters ahead of critical state elections on Aug 12.

Before posing her question, she appealed to be given some time to explain so that she would not be misinterpreted.

"Before I ask my question, I would like to say that I'd like to take one to two minutes to ask my question and also give some explanation for that, so that it won't be misinterpreted.

"When will the quota system be abolished and replaced by a meritocracy system? My friends and I, as well as others that are not known, are affected by this quota system, all because they don't have Bumiputera status," she said.

But Anwar stopped her before she could explain, with the visibly shaken student stammering at one point.

He then told her that she should have followed previous sessions as he had already answered a similar question.

"If you had followed the Temu Anwar' sessions... someone had asked this question, and I already answered. Next time, follow."

Anwar then spoke for about 10 minutes, while criticising the student for not being fair to Bumiputeras in remote schools.

He said instead of touching on the quota system, where Bumiputeras are prioritised for intake into public universities, the student should have pointed out specific cases of non-Malays being denied entry so that the government could look into them.

The student tried to explain several times, only to be cut off by the prime minister, who was greeted with applause.

Anwar then ended by saying that abolishing the quota system would cost him the elections.

Anwar's manner of handling the student's question triggered a wave of criticism on social media.

Mediha said the behaviour was "utterly disappointing".

"Whenever a grown adult speaks condescendingly to a child, crushing their confidence and bringing them shame, I completely lose respect," she said on Twitter.

Another user tweeting under @housefly111 said, "The way he cut off her really is old-school typical boss attitude. Only one-way communication."

User @ede_421 praised the student for being aware that her question was "sensitive".

"She was spot on about questions like this being dismissed because they supposedly disturb the sensitivity of the majority, whatever that means. Rather than acknowledging this, the PM instead chose to harangue a school kid."

Burhan, meanwhile, questioned Anwar's attempt to turn the tables on the student by talking about poor Malay and Dayak students.

"It was really disappointing when the PM weaponised the meritocracy argument back at her. Along with the poor Dayak and Malay students, we have to help the poor Indian students. That's her point. That's the justice she wants," he added.

Nadhirah Ali, meanwhile, slammed Anwar for linking the question to his political survival.

"So Reformasi was never about making progressive changes? Just empty promises as a means to win elections."

Others linked the incident to Anwar's decision to field PKR's Najwan Halimi despite a racial slur against Indians.

"Didn't one of Anwar's PH contestants mock and use the racial slur 'Indian Estet' recently?" said a user by the name of Jedimaster. "If one checks PH's previous PRU (14 and 15) manifestos, one will see many Reformasi promises have been scams!"

Some said that while they agreed with Anwar's explanation, his behaviour was unbecoming for a leader dealing with the younger generation.

"There is a lot of truth in what Anwar explained, but don't interrupt her question. Listen first, let her finish, and then answer. But this – she was cut off even before anything – is not proper. After all, it's good that she dared to ask; she should be encouraged, not stopped like that," said blueocean on Twitter.

A Muda supporter tweeted, "The way he answered seems to talk down on a student who sincerely asks. What about Chinese and Indian students who are poor and less able? Where is justice for these people? Used to say all races were his children. Now a different answer," said Izdham Zainal.

For Hamirudin, the incident showed the difference between Anwar and his one-time nemesis, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"I have never heard Tun speak with anger. Tun is a cool type of person," he said, referring to the former leader.