SEMENYIH POLLS | Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob has dismissed the planned public debate between the candidates for the March 2 Semenyih by-election as a gimmick.
Speaking to reporters in Sesapan Kelubi today, Ismail Sabri stressed that it would be better for BN candidate Zakaria Hanafi to focus on meeting voters.
"I think it is better for the candidate to meet as many voters as possible. Sometimes debates are merely a gimmick," he said.
Met when campaigning house-to-house for Zakaria, Ismail Sabri said that most voters would not even pay attention to the public debate.
"(For instance) this gentleman (that we are visiting) might not attend the debate.
"If the candidate visits people, such as this gentleman who is sick, I think that is better than debating for its own sake.
"We're electing someone for the state assembly, not Parliament," he said.
Electoral reforms pressure group Bersih will organise the debate on Feb 25.
The group made history during the Cameron Highlands by-election in January by organising the first ever public debate for a by-election, which was also televised live.
Both Zakaria and Pakatan Harapan candidate Muhammad Aiman Zainali have publicly stated that they are not interested in participating in the debate.
So far, only PSM candidate Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul has committed to the event. - Mkini
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