Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli), the organiser of last Sunday's Chua-Lim debate, has denied the allegations that it gave preferential treatment to MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek during the debate.

"As the organiser for this debate, Asli did not favour any side but remained neutral," its senior vice-president Ng Yeen Seen said in a statement issued today.

Ng was responding to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who was quoted by Kwang Wah Yit Poh as saying that the debate was organised by a pro-MCA group.

lim guan eng chua soi lek debate question from audience In the interview with the Penang-based Chinese daily, Lim claimed that 11 out of 13 attendants who posed questions during question time were MCA supporters, and only 200 out of 800 seats were reserved for DAP supporters.

He also accused the organiser of moving the microphone, initially placed in front of DAP supporters, to where the MCA supporters were seated.

Rebutting these allegations, Ng said Asli did not arrange anyone to pose question during the debate, and both parties were allocated 200 seats respectively, with the remaining opened to members of the public.

"DAP was only interested in the debate, therefore only several DAP members attended the discussion sessions before the debate. The remaining members only arrived one hour before the debate.

"Our staff did not move the microphone at the DAP area to MCA area. This is a baseless and serious allegation.

"The organiser stationed the microphones in the middle of both MCA and DAP areas respectively and did not move them after that," she added.

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