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Once critical of bailouts, Anwar throws Sapura Energy RM1.1b lifeline

Three years ago, in a debate with former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, Anwar Ibrahim was critical of a proposal for the government to bail out debt-addled Sapura Energy Bhd. The then-opposition leader had argued that any talk of a bailout could only be done after a forensic audit on Sapura to determine if the company - which Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) had heavily invested in - had been mismanaged
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/737042

Malaysia’s PM Anwar denies bailout claims after pumping $331 million into ailing Sapura Energy
Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim claimed that critics would have attacked him no matter the decision made over Sapura Energy.

KUALA LUMPUR - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has come under heavy fire after his government injected RM1.1 billion (S$331 million) into Sapura Energy on March 11, having previously criticised calls to bail out the former petroleum giant.

The opposition and ordinary Malaysians alike have mocked the premier over the subscription of Sapura’s convertible loan stocks by a Finance Ministry-owned vehicle, pointing out how the then opposition leader had in 2022 been strongly against a bailout without a forensic audit to identify mismanagement in the oil and gas company that is now saddled with RM16 billion in liabilities.

“What are the merits and rationale of channelling RM1.1 billion to an uncompetitive company facing losses?” asked Kelantan-based lawmaker Syahir Sulaiman in a March 12 press statement