Debate on TV, Umno veteran Musa tells VP hopefuls

The six candidates vying for three Umno vice president positions in this month's party polls should prove their worth by engaging in a televised debate, says Umno veteran Musa Hitam.

According to Berita Harian today, Musa (right) said the six candidates should agree to the debate as they can directly present their ideas and message to the public on improving Umno.

"I want to see all the six vice president candidates debate on television. Only then can we see who can make the better argument.

"Like in the US, people can present questions and provoke them a little bit. This way, the rakyat can see the capability of all the potential leaders," he was quoted as saying.

The six candidates are incumbents Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Hishammuddin Hussein, Shafie Apdal and challengers Mukhriz Mahathir, Isa Abdul Samad and Mohd Ali Rustam.

Some observers have speculated in particular that the candidacy of Mukhriz, son of long-running former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, signals the rise of the conservative wing within the party.

‘Talk policies, not race’

Musa who is a former deputy prime minister, also advised the party to choose candidates who are forward looking and capable to managing a sophisticated and modern country.

He added that he was concerned by how certain candidates were too simplistic in their arguments by declaring themselves as champions of the Malays but failing to talk specifics.

"...and often times, to show one's Malayness they become anti-other groups or accuse others of being anti-Malays. Only then they can become heroes. This cannot be.

"If they want to debate about Malay issues, they need to debate the position of Malays in terms of policies and strategies," he was quoted saying.

Musa also made a veiled reference to Ahmad Zahid, Hishammuddin and Shafie without naming them, saying, "They say they are not a team, but wherever they go, they are together".

"In reality, I see this group is strong and influential to retain power, but oddly it is being denied (teaming)," he was quoted as saying.

The trio had proposed each other's name during the nomination process and acknowledged the "close cooperation" between them, but have insisted that there is no pact to fend off challengers.