Only DAP and MCA brave enough to debate: WHERE IS THE MALAY PM HIDING?

ON July 8 DAP’s secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and MCA president Chua Soi Lek will participate in another debate, this time in English.

They had debated once before in Mandarin. That debate was not publicized because it was mostly in Mandarin. The Malays and foreign diplomats could only follow it from the news reports and translations which are not really comprehensive.

But the next round, the whole of Malaysia as well as the Southeast Asian community will be able to follow the viewpoints of the two men who represent opposing sides of the political pendulum in the Malaysian Chinese community.

A political debate is important to the current political development in the country. It is thus imperative that the leaders in every major political party in the nation participate in a series of debates, especially ahead of elections.

As for those with an eye on the presidency or premiership, they must be bold enough to take part in any general debate pertaining to issues raised. No longer should there be the case of a candidate for head of government or head of state himself trying to avoid a public debate.

Willing or not, as a candidates for the post of prime minister, the contestants must be brave enough to take up the challenge. Again, it is stressed that there should no longer exist in the modern politics a scenario whereby the candidate for Prime Minister fears and refuses to take part in debates.

Those who fear are not considered to be fitting candidates for the premiership.

Malaysians want to evaluate for themselves

In Malaysian politics, people are now longing to see the Prime Minister engaging in a debate. Anwar Ibrahim, who was announced as the alternative prime minister for the Opposition, has already expressed his willingness to take part and will wait for as long as it takes to have the opportunity to debate with the incumbent Prime Minister, which is Najib.

But he never dared to answer the challenge. He is considered not as fortunate as Dr Mahathir or Tun Abdullah Badawi, who were never challenged by any other figure in the Opposition to a debate. Then again, for Najib, times have changed. Today, it is crucial for a PM candidate to enter into debate and be courageous.

We can only witness younger men like PKR's Rafizi Ramli debate with UMNO Youth's Khairy Jamaluddin, who has been bold enough to go where the PM has never gone before. But it's not their time for the premiership as far as these two young men are concerned - not just yet.

So far, those who dare to debate at any given time are the Chinese leaders representing DAP and MCA.

We all know that MCA is a deteriorating party for the Chinese. It has lost its strength and position in the national front and is not like what it used to be in the days of Tan Cheng Lock and Tan Siew Sin, but Chua Soi Lek with all his weakness had the courage to debate with his strongest political adversary, Lim Guan Eng, who is also the Chief Minister of Penang.

Although Guan Eng knows how weak the MCA is and how it would never be able to argue with the strongest Chinese party currently, which is DAP, nevertheless he is willing to accept the debate in order to provide education and knowledge to the people.

Although they may want to seek personal political gain, there is still risk they will have to face by taking the challenge. Whatever is in the best interest of the public, the people watching will be able learn and understand through the debate. In the case of the Chinese community, they will benefit as both leaders are courageous enough to debate on issues of interest to the Chinese people in general.

Now, only the Chinese leaders are daring enough to have open debates. Malay leaders do not even dare to speak of it. It is glaring that courage only seems to be amongst the Chinese.

A Malay Prime Minister does not even dare to answer the call for one. How can a Malay Prime Minister gain honor and recognition from all the people, especially non-Malays, if he as a Malay does not even dare to face a debate?

PM only for Malays - how can this hold when the Malay PM dare not even debate

Candidates for premiership as well as the Prime Minister himself are not only supposed to be the bravest but should be versatile and able to weather any problems that arise. Therefore, there should be no question of the Prime Minister and as well as aspirants for such a post being afraid of debates.

In this crucial time when the people have raised the issue of non-Malays becoming Prime Minister, the future prime minister must have the guts to come forward.

If people only see DAP and MCA leaders as the only ones brave enough to step forward, how do the Malays defend the argument that the nature of the position is only for the Malays? Do not become Prime Minister just because it has been passed down to you from your ancestors. To be brave and smart is in the blood of the Malays.

The open and democratic world wants to see this brave Malay. So the Malays must now show that they are courageous as demonstrated by the Chinese leaders - Chua Soi Lek and Lim Guan Eng.

(Translated by Huzainah A Rani,  Malaysia Chronicle)

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