PKR: Tengku Adnan should arrange PM-Anwar debate

PKR said BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansur’s statement in support of open debates should pave the way for a debate between premier Najib Abdul Razak and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution (left)said today that he hopes that Tengku Adnan can play a role as go-between to arrange a debate.

"I believe this is not a flippant comment, and I welcome such openness by BN to have its leaders debate us,” he said.

"On Anwar's side, we reiterate our invitation for a debate. We hope Tengku Adnan can act on behalf of Najib to organised a debate between these two great leaders.”

A Star report today had quoted Tengku Adnan, who is Umno secretary-general, as saying that the federal ruling coalition is ever ready to participate in debates such as the one between MCA chief Dr Chua Soi Lek and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng last Saturday.

The Umno leader reportedly said such debates are "healthy".

No Pakatan policy on trade with Israel

On a separate matter, Saifuddin said Pakatan Rakyat has yet to decide its foreign policy on Israel, should it take over the federal government.

“We have not discussed this. Matters to do with Israel did not arise when we drafted our common policy,” he said.

He had said this in response to revelations by PKR-linked NGOs that Malaysia has trade ties with Israel, even without diplomatic relations.

International Trade and Industry deputy minister Mukhriz Mahathir had earlier said that the government cannot bar private companies from trading with Israel but does not encourage it.

He had also asked if Anwar Ibrahim, as PM-in-waiting for Pakatan Rakyat, can declare that a Pakatan government will not allow private trade with the Jewish nation.

On Najib and Thaipusam

On an unrelated matter, Saifuddin said that it is his understanding that Muslims can attend events organised by non-Muslims as long as these are cultural, and not religious in nature.

Asked specifically about Najib's attendance at Thaipusam, he said: “I believe there are stages in the Thaipusam celebrations, and some of it is religious...but I cannot give a pronouncement. Plus, I was not there.”

Some religious scholars have condemned Najib's attendance at the Hindu festival at Batu Caves on Feb 7.

However, the premier has defended himself, saying he had not participated in religious elements of the annual festival.