Salleh: RTM won't air Nazri-Dr M debate

RTM has no plans to broadcast the debate between former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said the debate was purely between the two individuals.

"For me, it's a debate between two individuals and not a debate which was initiated by RTM itself.

"We have no plans to broadcast the debate live," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Last Wednesday, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang had urged Salleh to allow the highly-anticipated debate to be broadcast live.

The debate is scheduled to take place at MRSM Kuala Kangsar in Perak, on March 25 and the topics include the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) affair, the RM2.6 billion in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's bank accounts, the East Coast Rail Line Project (ECRL) and the Bumiputera Malaysia Finance scandal, which occurred during Mahathir's tenure as prime minister.

Initially, Nazri had challenged Mahathir to contest against him in Padang Rengas, the parliamentary constituency which he has been representing since 1995.

Subsequently, Mahathir issued a counter-challenge and asked Nazri to contest in Langkawi instead.

After the series of dares, both agreed to a debate in Padang Rengas on March 25, which coincides with Mahathir's scheduled appearance at a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) there.

Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the authorities had received the appropriate paperwork and that an approval has been granted for the debate.- Mkini