I refer to the Malaysiakini report Khairy vs Mukhriz dan Khir Toyo .

I refer to the above recently-concluded Umno Youth debate that was broadcast live over national television.

All three candidates had plenty to say in an hour and credit has to go to the moderator for asking questions that covered both party and national issues.

It was indeed interesting to hear the candidates speak on topics openly on a public platform; and it must be noted that the candidates' answers attempted to reflect their stand on party and national policies as well as their personal opinion on a variety of issues.

Of the three, Mukhriz Mahathir seemed the most at ease and composed, as the other two candidates appeared defensive in response to hardhitting questions regarding their track record.

Khairy Jamaluddin spent the entire hour attempting to portray a centrist image, obviously aware that his words were being heard by all races, yet he failed to render a genuine image.

Viewers who remember his extremist ultra-Malay rhetoric before the last general elections would have found it hard to take his sudden change in tone seriously.

His answers regarding the administration of his father-in-law and its failures appeared defensive, almost to confirm to us his important role in derailing a prime minister who had come into office on record support yet today faces what amounts to a dismissal from office on a vote of no-confidence from the rakyat .

This was in stark contrast to Mukhriz, who had no problems explaining to the moderator that he was immensely proud of his father's achievements as prime minister for 22 years. He, however, maintained that he hoped to combine essential values such as integrity and unity with his father's successful approach to leadership.

Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, on the other hand, contributed nothing to the debate in terms of what he hoped to achieve or what his views on leadership was.

He had nothing to say on the vital issue of the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English, which indicated his sadly non-existent stand on a topic of utmost importance to the future of our children.

How he has managed so many nominations for the Umno polls without a concrete stand on anything and despite fact that he led Selangor to defeat in the general elections is a mystery that only he can answer.

Mukhriz was strong in his stand that English has to be maintained for the teaching of these two subjects in school despite the brickbats of criticisms he has faced in the past two months regarding his view.

His point - that whilst language might be the soul of a race, it is imperative that the race itself does not fail in an increasingly globalised world. He noted that English was the way forward, and that our children must be exposed to it as early as possible.

It is hoped that the delegates who vote for their new Umno Youth leader in March take into account the merits of the debate, and the points and stands that were made.

A genuine leader is needed to take this country forward, one that has the guts to say what he feels and one who stands by his opinions.

It is not about appearing centrist, left or right; it is about having the conviction to do what is best for the nation that matters.