Immature of Anwar to compare Bersih’s ‘D’ grade to UPSR exam, says PAS veep

PETALING JAYA: PAS vice-president Amar Abdullah has criticised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for likening Bersih’s “D” grade on the government’s performance to a UPSR exam, deeming his remarks immature and irresponsible.

Amar said Anwar demonstrated a lack of seriousness and accountability as a leader, who should be taking criticism seriously and showing a commitment to addressing weaknesses in his administration.

“This grade clearly reflects the failure (on the government’s part) to deliver the promised reforms to the people. Dismissing criticism in a cavalier manner only erodes public trust in his leadership,” he said in a statement.

Amar said the people do not need rhetoric or jokes, but concrete actions that bring real change.

Earlier, Anwar said it was not impossible for his administration to receive an “A” for its performance in the near future after the “D” given by the electoral watchdog.

He said the grade was “okay” as it was not an “F”, adding that one could get a “D” for UPSR but still score an “A” in SPM.

Bersih said on Tuesday the “D” grade given to the unity government reflected its limited progress in carrying out reforms as well as the gap between its rhetoric and action.

It also ranked Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the best of five prime ministers, including Anwar, Muhyiddin Yassin, Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Najib Razak.

Separately, Amar raised concerns over the government accepting sponsorships from private companies for official trips, saying this opens the door to conflicts of interest and undermines the integrity of governance.

“Even more concerning, this practice sets a dangerous precedent for civil servants,” he said.

He said that as prime minister, Anwar must reject such sponsorships and ensure all official expenses are transparently funded through official channels.

Earlier, Anwar revealed that private firms the likes of Petronas, Sapura Energy, Yinson, and Proton had borne 70% to 80% of the cost of his working visits to five countries.

He had returned yesterday from official visits to Cairo (Egypt), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Lima (Peru), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Doha (Qatar).

Muda questioned how these firms were selected and whether there were any tangible benefits for these companies beyond mere sponsorship.

It also said there were concerns that relying on private companies to fund state visits could create a circle of powerful corporate allies, potentially leading to cronyism and compromising the impartiality of the government.