Soi Lek: Najib proven enough, no need to debate Anwar
(The Malaysian Insider) – Datuk Seri Najib Razak has already proven his ability to govern well and does not need to be judged in a political debate with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said today.
Dr Chua pointed out that Najib was not an unknown personality and his work has been proven through his successes over the past three years.
“Why should Najib debate with Anwar? Najib is PM and has sat in a hot seat for the last three years and under difficulty, he has delivered.
“You can see the results through his economic transformation programme, it is clear, what’s to debate?” he said today.
Dr Chua was speaking in a press conference this afternoon after squaring-off for the second time with DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in a debate entitled, “Whose policies benefit the country more”.
Instead, the former health minister said if should be Anwar who should be debating other Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders as the Opposition Leader needs to prove to voters what he has to offer.
“His policies must be clear, tangible, substantial… right now it’s all full of rhetoric,” he said.
“They (PR) should show they can deliver and walk the talk.”
Earlier, Lim had said during his opening remarks during the event organised by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) that such a debate should be held between the country’s top two rivals – Najib and Anwar.
He questioned Najib’s refusal so far to entertain the opposition’s request to hold the debate, suggesting that the prime minister feared he would lose in a face-of with Anwar.
“A debate should be held between the PM and Anwar, but the PM refuses to debate Anwar, is he worried after the debate, the people will determine Anwar is more capable to be PM?” he questioned today in his opening remark.
“Why can’t the PM debate the opposition leader to let people decide who is more qualified to be PM of Malaysia?”
Lim said if one “wants to be PM, then you must debate”.
“If there is no debate, how can there be transformation? Only degress,” he said.