Fear of debate depicts 'Umno's weakness'
Shaik Dawood HussainPublished: Mar 2, 2008 9:09 AM | Updated: Mar 2, 2008 9:36 AM
Two senior PAS leaders today lambasted Barisan Nasional, especially its main component Umno, for brushing aside a call made by the Islamist opposition party for a public debate in the run-up to the general election.
Two senior PAS leaders today lambasted Barisan Nasional, especially its main component Umno, for brushing aside a call made by the Islamist opposition party for a public debate in the run-up to the general election.
PAS secretary-general Kamaruddin Jaafar said that the ruling coalition's reluctance for such a debate only showed that BN was not ready to be transparent about its policies.
“They are not ready to defend their programmes and policies which they shout about. They are not willing to put their election manifesto under public scrutiny,” he said when contacted today.
On the other hand, he added, PAS was ready to go public and take any questions regarding its own election manifesto.
Similar sentiments were echoed by PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, who said that “their reluctance shows that they are in fear of PAS”.
“In the nation’s history, not once have they come up and agreed for a public debate on any matter,” he added.
He said that a political debate was a good opportunity for the people to judge for themselves on the many claims made by both sides of the political fence.
“However here, it is not such a case. Here the mainstream media only talks about BN,” he added.
Ali Rustam under fire
The public debate became issue when the ruling party last week dismissed PAS’ election manifesto as one that could bankrupt the nation.
PAS retorted by demanding a debate with Umno on their respective election manifestos, a call which was rejected by almost all Umno top leaders.
Umno deputy president Najib Abdul Razak had said that holding public debates were the “way of the opposition”.
And yesterday Umno vice-president Mohd Ali Rustam (right) stoked fire by asking PAS to just hold a debate with ‘orang utan’.
“Recently PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said Umno members were like orang utan. Why not just invite orang utan for debate,” said Ali Rustam, as was reported in Mingguan Malaysia today.
Ali Rustam said that the debate invitation was nothing more than a ploy by PAS to gain cheap publicity.
Naturally, Ali Rustam’s remarks did not go well with both Kamaruddin and Salahuddin (left).
“It is an irresponsible statement from an Umno vice-president who just refuses to debate like a gentleman,” said Kamaruddin.
“It is unfortunate that Umno has a vice-president who lacks maturity and intellectual,” added Salahuddin.
PAS secretary-general Kamaruddin Jaafar said that the ruling coalition's reluctance for such a debate only showed that BN was not ready to be transparent about its policies.“They are not ready to defend their programmes and policies which they shout about. They are not willing to put their election manifesto under public scrutiny,” he said when contacted today.
On the other hand, he added, PAS was ready to go public and take any questions regarding its own election manifesto.
Similar sentiments were echoed by PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, who said that “their reluctance shows that they are in fear of PAS”.
“In the nation’s history, not once have they come up and agreed for a public debate on any matter,” he added.
He said that a political debate was a good opportunity for the people to judge for themselves on the many claims made by both sides of the political fence.
“However here, it is not such a case. Here the mainstream media only talks about BN,” he added.
Ali Rustam under fire
The public debate became issue when the ruling party last week dismissed PAS’ election manifesto as one that could bankrupt the nation.
PAS retorted by demanding a debate with Umno on their respective election manifestos, a call which was rejected by almost all Umno top leaders.
Umno deputy president Najib Abdul Razak had said that holding public debates were the “way of the opposition”.
And yesterday Umno vice-president Mohd Ali Rustam (right) stoked fire by asking PAS to just hold a debate with ‘orang utan’. “Recently PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said Umno members were like orang utan. Why not just invite orang utan for debate,” said Ali Rustam, as was reported in Mingguan Malaysia today.
Ali Rustam said that the debate invitation was nothing more than a ploy by PAS to gain cheap publicity.
Naturally, Ali Rustam’s remarks did not go well with both Kamaruddin and Salahuddin (left).“It is an irresponsible statement from an Umno vice-president who just refuses to debate like a gentleman,” said Kamaruddin.
“It is unfortunate that Umno has a vice-president who lacks maturity and intellectual,” added Salahuddin.
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