Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim said Anwar had, on the other hand, covered various issues such as the economy and subsidies in his policy speech last night.

“Grassroots’ public issues were not explored boldly and frankly by PKR grassroots leaders from the various states.

“Most of them only praised the party president,” he told FMT.

Hassan said none of the debaters touched on the Merdeka Center survey regarding the decline of Anwar’s approval rating as prime minister to 50% from 68% in December 2022.

“The findings of the survey were obtained after Anwar completed a year as prime minister. The issues of whether the economy is on the right track or not and the high cost of living, which is so important to the people, were hardly touched by the debaters,” he said.

Hassan also said Anwar’s policy speech and the opening speech by PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli were defensive in nature.

“Both talked about having to maintain idealism. The Permatang Pauh declaration was mentioned.

“This was a defensive reaction because of public criticism that PKR, which leads the unity government, has largely forgotten the idealism of reform,” he said.