Public debate? Dr M is asking the impossible
YOURSAY ‘The Najib-Dr M debate will determine who’s the bigger liar...’
Mahathir challenges Najib to public debate
Sirach:
A debate is out of the question. That is, sadly, not in the DNA of Umno Baru leaders. When you've tasted power for close to 60 years by having a pliant media to do your bidding and demonise your opponents, debate is the last thing you do.
Would former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad have debated Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li) after Umno was deregistered and the latter formed Semangat 46? Not in a million years.
Instead, they use dirty tricks, like distributing pictures of Ku Li in Kadazan headgear bearing a cross on the eve of the 1990 general election.
So it is disingenuous to even suggest a debate. Such civilised discourse is anathema to the country’s ruling elite.
PM Najib Razak will have to slug it out with the old man through the media. At the moment, Mahathir is well ahead on points. And the clock is ticking away.
Odin Tajué: Mahathir, you are asking for the impossible. Najib is simply incapable of doing a debate. He needs a prepared script to read from.
It is impossible for his scriptwriter to tell what you may be going to say and to write a suitable reply, never mind a repartee. So no, just go on slugging it out like you have been doing the last few months.
TehTarik: In his 22 years as a PM, Mahathir did not participate in a single public debate. Why the sudden change of heart?
Trusting Mahathir to save the nation is like asking a fox to be in charge of a chicken pen. Or a monkey to look after a banana plantation. Beware, Dr M is the master of lies and deception.
Odysseus: Najib has said he is merely following Dr M's footstep. Since Dr M never had any public debate with the opposition, I guess Najib will not accept his offer.
It's time for Dr M to reflect on the kind of lesson he has imbued in Umno.
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MinahBulat: Indeed, debate for what? Both are equally as bad and have dragged the country into this quagmire. What Malaysia needs is to kick Umno out. The party is rotten to the core.
The debate will only determine who is the bigger liar, that’s all.
Peacemaker: I won’t look forward to this debate because it will be a contest of lies. Each side tries to spin the bigger lie. Mahathir has lied throughout his career, not just to Malaysians but also foreigners. Najib is no different.
The Analyser: The fact that 2,000 people in Ipoh still idolise this man for all his faults says a lot about Malaysians’ inability to move ahead.
Eyespye: Najib won't debate Mahathir because he cannot and is unable to answer those questions put to him. It's sad, really, because I'm sure only the cabinet is privy to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) matters.
What truly sickens me is how we don't learn from history: Mahathir is again using the opposition to tear down his opponent. He will change his stance the moment he has achieved what he wanted.
Hearty Malaysian: Najib would not dare to debate Mahathir to end this mess and to prove he has the support of people after so much public outcry over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the 1MDB scandal.
It is incumbent upon him to call for a fresh mandate - dissolve the Parliament and call for GE. Anyone wants to bet that Naiib would not dare do so as well?
Mushiro: A call to a debate is a big blow to Najib. Najib is already in a comfort zone with the controlled media, prepared questions and answers, and friendly TV hosts.
Najib will never take the challenge. Mahathir should keep hitting Najib where it hurts most - 1MDB, GST, PM’s family and Altantuya Shaariibuu. Najib will eventually be forced to respond.
CQ Muar: Lights, camera, action! Let the show begins... it’s the duel of the Titans.
If this is between two kungfu fighters, they'd have an assortment of weapons of choice. But since both are Malay, the choice would be limited to keris.
Let's see who can out ‘silat’ each other in the open.
I'd bet on Mahathir to emerge victorious; he is seasoned with years of experience. Najib, on the other hand, could be weakened by all the woes weighting down on him.
Wg321: Yes, this is going to be the Debate of the Century. Life in Malaysia will come to a standstill if there is a live debate between Mahathir and Najib.
However self-styled philosopher Rais Yatim will come to the rescue of Najib. He will claim that debate is not a Malay culture.
I still remembered PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim often complained at his ceramahs during the last general election that whenever he wanted to ask a question in Parliament, Najib would run away, carrying his ‘James Bond’ suitcase.
Fair Play: Hello there Tourism Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, Dr M has challenged your supreme leader for a debate.
There is no need to fight it out in Pekan . What say you if your fearless leader declines the invitation?
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