Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali believes the upcoming debate between former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno minister Mohamad Nazri Abdul Aziz is not relevant.
"I support debates which are beneficial. Presidential debates got benefit. This (Mahathir - Nazri) face-off (is) for what? He (Nazri) is saying he's debating on behalf of himself, not the government. Then for what purpose?
"People already know what are they going to debate about," he said.
He added that it is better for them to be watering plants at home than debating.
However, he said that if there is a "transparent government" after the next election, mainstream news platform like TV3 and Awani should emulate the Presidential Debate, by hosting contesting leaders from the respective parties in a televised debate.
"That will be very good, that will be beneficial," he told reporters at a press conference in Titiwangsa today.
The much anticipated debate between Mahathir and Nazri has now been postponed to April 7, after police rejected the notice for the debate which was to be held at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) in Kuala Kangsar.
Police claimed that it violated the Peaceful Assembly Act, as it was to held at a school. The Act prohibits the use of schools as a venue for peaceful assemblies.
Nazri had criticised the police over the decision and vowed to debate with Mahathir no matter the cost, and not back down like previous debate participants.
UEC round-table
On a separate matter, Perkasa will be organising a roundtable discussion on the controversy behind the Unified Examination Certificate's (UEC) recognition in Malaysia.
The round-table will be on April 1 at the Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur, from 9 am till noon.
"Perkasa education bureau chief Sirajuddin Salleh, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's professor Dr Teo Kok Seong will be those present," Ibrahim said.
He explained that the round-table discussion about the UEC's recognition is needed as the matter has been appearing on the news lately, and Perkasa believes it has to give a response for the benefit of the rakyat and the country.
He added that the Independent Chinese Secondary School examination system should not only fulfil the criteria stated by the government, but go beyond it, and be relevant to the country's education guidelines, citing the 1956 Razak Report and the constitution.
'Malaysians are so obsessed with English'
Ibrahim also asked why are Malaysians so obsessed with the English Language.
"English is important, we must uphold English. But we shouldn’t be too obsessed.
"Like in Germany, German kids are all so successful, they can get jobs.
"So in Malaysia, we should enforce the Malay language as the lingua franca... and if we practice it and people must converse in Malay. Then we will progress... ," he said.
Sirajuddin who was also present, said that while he supported the government's move to improve English via tests by the Cambridge Examinations Syndicate, it should not burden the students.
He added that Malaysia may not be able to achieve such standards because of the lack of skilled teachers that we are experiencing today.
"So its not about adopting all of this systems. But is it feasible?," he asked.- Mkini
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