YOURSAY 'Two Chinese guys, talking in Chinese, in front of a Chinese audience and organised by Michael Yeoh - it's all very ‘Malaysian'.'

Organiser contends Lim-Chua debate not racial

Solaris: Why is DAP, which professes to be a multiracial party so concerned about something that affects the future of the Chinese community exclusively? Only a racially-motivated party would do something like that.

If Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng can label Hindraf as ‘communal' for focussing on the welfare and future of the Indians, how different then is DAP from Hindraf in this context?

Multi Racial: I am against race-based politics. The time has come to focus on developing this country. We help the poor, regardless of race. We help all businessmen, regardless of race. We give freedom to Malaysians, regardless of their race and religion.

We should bar race-based organisations like Perkasa, MCA, Umno and MIC.

Abasir: "There is nothing racial about the conference." Yeah, that's right. Two Chinese guys, talking in Chinese, in front of a Chinese audience and organised by Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (Asli) CEO Michael Yeoh. It's all very ‘Malaysian'.

Ferdtan: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and MCA chief Chua Soi Lek, whatever misgivings there may be, deserve praise for the agreement to debate.

This is a good start in following the ways of the 'developed democratic practices' in the Western world - and it should not stop there.

We call upon our PM Najib Razak to take up the call by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for a debate at the national stage via the national mass media. If our PM does not take up the challenge to debate with Anwar, then he has no business (or moral standing) to officiate the Lim-Chua debate tomorrow.

Let's face the facts - what Lim and Chua debate will affect mainly the Chinese population. It does not make any dramatic difference in government policy (after the debate).

We know that the policy of the government is more Malay-centric; and thus the right people who should be debating on our national policies are none other than our present PM, Najib, and the possible incoming PM, Anwar.

Tholu: This debate topic ‘Malaysian Chinese at the Political Crossroads' is nauseous and is nakedly offensive against the background of a multi-ethnic nation. It is going to pose more questions than provide answers.

DAP claims that it is a multiracial party and indeed its present-day attitude and member's list reflects closely the claim. MCA, though being a purely mono-ethnic party, has never had any reservation in proclaiming that although it is a Chinese-based party, it works for all the rakyat of Malaysia.

As such why are they now clamouring to crawl through a narrow race-based tube that prompts other races to perceive the debate as inspired on nothing less than chauvinism and racism?

Guan Eng, there is already a sizable number of people envious of your splendid governance of Penang, who are calling you a Chinese chauvinist (not to mention the 'communist' label given to you by some). Do you want them to attest to their claims? Please call off the debate.

Cala: Right from the start, I have been against the idea of Lim Guan Eng engaging himself in such a debate with Chua Soi Lek. First, for a debate to make any sense, the topic must be controversial and in need of some kind of input and direction. This is not the case.

Choosing between an angel and a devil is a simple matter for the Chinese (for that matter, all Malaysians), so why should the Chinese be at the crossroads? Second, a two-party system began to take shape after the 12 ^th GE. Why should this be a contentious issue?

If there is anything to learn from the West, a two-party system shall provide checks and balances to a one-party system that we have now. I do not see anything controversial about that. So what is the fuss?

To me, the only beneficiary of the debate is Chua. By any account, due to MCA's powerlessness in containing and restraining an increasingly ‘randy' Umno, the demise of MCA in the coming GE is an undisputable fact.

Fearful of his fate, this is a public relations exercise for Chua to prop up his dwindling support from the community. But he forgets the precondition required before a renewed trust may be given to him by the community.

The questions to ask are: What has MCA achieved so far since Najib's elevation? What is MCA's role in the current political reality? Is the Umno-led BN regime transparent in governance?

Thana55: I am sorry, these ethnocentric topics are outdated in today's reality. Everything has to be viewed from a Malaysian perspective, if we are to evolve as a united and progressive nation.

I am therefore quite disappointed that Lim Guan Eng accepted to debate when DAP is trying to shrug its image as a Chinese party.

Disgusted: Lim Guan Eng should know that DAP is not a Chinese party and they should not take part in the debate. The debate should be changed to ‘Malaysians at the Political Crossroads'.

Debate could be potential banana peel to DAP

Anonyxyz: This will be a repeat of the Seremban fiasco of the past when DAP challenged MCA to contest in a Chinese-majority area to prove who had better support among the Chinese Malaysians.

DAP, sure of itself, walked into the trap and lost the election when Lee San Choon defeated Chen Man Hin.

MCA until today brags about this although those at that time knew that MCA cunningly imported phantom voters by moving their members to addresses in Seremban to secure their infamous victory.

Lim has given the opportunity for Chua to repeat another false victory.

Nik V: In the Malaysian political arena, BN's goal is to stay in power even through unfair and destructive means. And one of its major ways is by ensuring that enough Malaysians think along racial and religious lines.

The debate is just incidental. I truly hope DAP has a strategy that will address and counter this misstep.

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