With the just concluded political debate between MCA president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, we have crossed the Rubicon. There is no turning back from this kind of debate in the future.
Malaysians will look forward to such debates so that political parties can be consistent in their policies and statements. What is stated nationally through such TV debates will remain as the official policy of the political parties.
This will, indeed, put a stop to politicians adopting different stances when they address different communities. The former prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had accused Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of being a Chinese when addressing the Chinese and an ulamak when speaking to the Malays. There have been similar claims of duplicity when Umno politicians speak to different communities.
This has to stop if we are trying to forge a nation based on mutual respect for one another and to co-exist as a harmonious community dedicated to the welfare of Malaysia. It is all the more necessary to dispel suspicion by speaking honestly without adopting different stances.
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This is only possible if everyone has access to the policies of the political parties through nationally televised debates. Nobody can speak with a forked tongue after such debates.
It is, therefore, very crucial for the Prime Minister and the Prime-Minister-in-waiting to meet face to face in a nationally televised debate to state their respective positions. In today’s politics, a two-party system is surely emerging and it is imperative to listen to these two leaders.
Anwar has already challenged Najib to have a debate with him. He has publicly thrown down the gauntlet and it is left to Najib to take up the gauntlet. That is the only honourable thing to do.
Najib cannot avoid this debate especially when Anwar is even prepared to give the prime minister extra time to put forward his position and to reply to the opposition leader. It will not reflect well on the Prime Minister and the Barisan Nasional if Najib refuses to debate Anwar.
This is a much-awaited debate and Malaysians have a right to expect this debate to take place. This will definitely put a stop to the unhealthy political game of speaking differently to different communities and deliberately distorting the views of the other party.
The ball is in the Prime Minister’s court.
P Ramakrishnan
Executive committee member
20 February 2012
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
That … Mahathir is still pulling all the strings. He has (mismanaged) the Country of Billions.
I am amazed that Malasians expect a fair Election. (I think) it will be completely rigged.
Malaysia Chronicle: “For the first decade… Malaysia has lost a staggering RM1.08 trillion (US$338 billion) in illicit outflows which is the fourth highest in the developing world……The Global Financial Integrity (GFI) reported in January that RM930 billion flowed out of Malaysia from 2000 to 2008…The report elaborated further by stating that the increase was “at a scaled seen in few Asian countries” Due largely to Umno, BN, PBB, etc.
An absolute display of guilt & cowardice. In all democratic countries the gov’t debates healthily with the opposition.
Quote:’ Give us back our country, Malaysia. UMNO BN does not owned the country and her people. BN is voted in to rule and prosper the country and the rakyat NOT to enrich themselves. NOT to dictate over us Malaysians and do what they like!
BN has failed big time after 54yrs, time to make way for Pakatan Rakyat. The rakyat would like to give PR federal government a chance to prove it can rule better and fairer than BN. PR will put right all the wrong doings now going on in the governmental agencies and GRCs. We, the rakyat have a choice to choose from now.’
A registered letter, which we sent in December 2011 and was signed by 15 NGOs from eight countries calling on Malaysia’s authorities to arrest Taib and 13 family members, has been left unanswered. Has the PM got any trace of moral, dignity and sense of shame left? Watching from NZ, rated top for democracy, and transparency, this is despicable, this is a disgrace to the whole Country Malaysia. Why are Sarawakians & Malaysian tolerating this rot & stench? It reflects on the people too..
Najib manaukau, whether or not he’s the PM-in waiting, lets see how the debate goes. I’m willing to bet Najib will be outclassed.
I forgot to add that I will furnish a bank guarantee of payment to NST if it republishes the pages taken out by shenanigan Mahahtir in relation to the billions of dollars’ worth of contract awarded to Anwar’s cronies and (allegedly) his father during Anwar’s tenure as Finance Minister cum DPM.
I am sorry to say this, for once, I totally disagree with your assumption that … Anwar is the P.M. in-waiting. Even though I will give an arm to have the present regime changed and kicked out of Putrajaya yesterday. Let me refer you to the … Anwar’ records, he is not only (allegedly) promiscuous, a … liar when he announced he will take over the government but at the end it was just an illusion. During his time when he was the blue eye boy of the shenanigan Mahathir and also was the mentor of almost all the deceitful Umno … Just like what Umno politicians did, he made clarion calls on numerous occasions … using the Chinese as his punching bags in his pursuit and aspiration to become the P.M. of Malaysia. It was because of his stand … over the years in the cabinet, he became the blue eye boy of the shenanigan Mahathir and was made the DPM. If not for his impatience to become the P.M. he would not have been indicted for sodomy and sacked from the post of the… Read more »
If the sitting pm is what he says he is, then a debate will be the just thing to do.Face to face-man to man.
Mr.Pm ,instead of ‘hijacking’ crowds or making payments …, please debate on matters close to the hearts of malaysians.