Najib says 'no' to debate with Anwar

Even as the latest survey results show majority of Malaysians still hoping for a debate between BN chairman Najib Razak and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, the idea was shot down by Najib.

Speaking to Qatar-based global news channel Al Jazeera, Najib said political parties already had many other ways to reach out.

"There are many ways to reach out to the public, both political parties have a lot of space in Malaysia... It is unlikely we will have a debate, we need to engage with the people, the opposition will engage with people," he told Al Jazeera in an interview to be aired tomorrow.

Najib's latest refusal to face Anwar effectively ends any hope among the Malaysian public to see a historic debate between two of the country's top political leaders in the days leading to polling day on May 5.

Anwar had several times invited Najib to a public debate on policy matters, only to be turned down. BN leaders however argued that political debates were not part of the country's culture.

Yesterday, University of Malaya's Centre for Democracy and Elections revealed that 60 percent of respondents in its latest survey want such a debate to take place. 23 percent of those polled however think there is no need for it.

Last week, influential electoral reforms coalition Bersih 2.0 invited both leaders for a debate. The large crowd who turned up at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur were not surprised that Najib was absent, and moderator Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa went ahead to question Anwar on Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto next to an empty seat reserved for Najib .

-Harakahdaily