Barisan Nasional should not entertain requests from the opposition to hold a debate, said Umno supreme council member and Bera MP Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said it was a waste of time to entertain calls for a debate because it was clearly to find fault and not to help solve any problems faced by the people.

"I feel we do not need to entertain the opposition because it is only a waste of time. In fact, Prime Minister (Najib Abdul Razak) also said today that the government listens to all the problems of the people and will solve them.

"The problems of the people are more important than debating.. which is not aimed at finding the truth but to find fault and make false accusations," said Ismail Sabri who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister after attending a ceremony to hand over allocations to Bera Parliamentary constituency at the Bera Umno Hall today.

He was commenting on a statement by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) Armada chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman who was reported as saying he would organise a forum titled "Nothing To Hide" and would invite Najib and PPBM chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohammad to address any questions from any party.

Ismail Sabri added that even if Umno welcomed the idea, it would not achieve its objective because there would still be opposition members who would not accept any truth or good that Umno has done.

"They will never agree with whatever we say because they are already prejudiced. They have never thought that what the government is doing is right, it doesn't matter what we do. It is their job to oppose," he said.

- Bernama