Malaysia Chronicle
As expected, Prime Minister Najib Razak has once again chickened out on a televised public debate with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, this time disguising his perceived cowardice and flip-flop by using fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin.
Earlier this month, Najib had tried to give the impression that he was reconsidering the debate offer, prompting Anwar’s PKR party to send a second invitation to his office. But until now, there has been no reply although Najib had written on his blog that he was willing to hold “civilized” discourse on meaningful topics.
Najib’s sudden ‘change of heart’ had followed criticism that his Umno party contained the most gutless leaders who did not dare put their money where their mouth were, and even BN compatriot MCA was better than it. MCA president Chua Soi Lek had at least dared to take on arch rival DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in what was tagged as “The Great Chinese Debate” last month.
“Manipulated shenanigan” to allow Najib to vindicate himself
Najib’s latest U-turn is bound to strengthen the people’s worst impression of his limpid leadership, especially amongst the the young professionals, many of whom are voters and want to see what Anwar and Najib each have to offer. A recent public survey too pointed out that more than 70% of this group wanted an Anwar-Najib debate.
“The whole of Malaysia can wait until the cows come home but Najib would never dare to take on Anwar. Najib has no vision, no ideas to offer – only public relations and gimmicks like RPK,” PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.
In a recent posting, RPK had called Anwar a ‘chicken’ for allegedly muscling him out of a TV program where the Opposition Leader was due to appear with WikiLeaks founder Juilan Assange. The pro-Umno RPK also said Anwar had no right to challenge Najib to a debate – better that Anwar debated him instead.
The Umno media immediately seized on these remarks, paving the way for Najib to attack Anwar for “inconsistency”. Critics, however, said the entire episode was a “manipulated shenanigan” and signaled Najib’s curtain call on Anwar’s debate invitation.
Pressure mounting for a reply
Indeed, it has been 2 weeks since PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution issued the second invitation and pressure is mounting on the PM to reply, especially with the 13th general election looming and the people keen to see what the two sides – government and opposition – could respectively offer.
But Najib would only latch onto the RPK remarks to justify and vindicate himself for ‘chickening’ out once again.
“It appears that he (Anwar) is not willing (to debate with Raja Petra),” Bernama reported Najib as saying.
“Sooner or later, the people will question him over his inconsistency. We must be consistent. When we say we practise democracy and we are open, while deploring the government for not being democratic and open. But actually, if we look at their actions like barring some newspapers from attending their press conferences… Is this consistent with what they are preaching all this while?”
No surprisingly then that Najib came in for ridicule as RPK did for hypocrisy. Najib had taken over from former premier Abdullah Badawi in 2009. His administration is regarded as the worst ever, pockmarked by corruption, record number of flip-flops and unprecedented racism and racial bigotry.
“It is certainly not consistent for someone like Najib to accuse another person of inconsistency when he has made the most ever flip-flops of the 6 prime ministers we have ever had, including Mahathir Mohamad who ruled for 22 years,” said Jui Meng.
As expected, Prime Minister Najib Razak has once again chickened out on a televised public debate with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, this time disguising his perceived cowardice and flip-flop by using fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin.
Earlier this month, Najib had tried to give the impression that he was reconsidering the debate offer, prompting Anwar’s PKR party to send a second invitation to his office. But until now, there has been no reply although Najib had written on his blog that he was willing to hold “civilized” discourse on meaningful topics.
Najib’s sudden ‘change of heart’ had followed criticism that his Umno party contained the most gutless leaders who did not dare put their money where their mouth were, and even BN compatriot MCA was better than it. MCA president Chua Soi Lek had at least dared to take on arch rival DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in what was tagged as “The Great Chinese Debate” last month.
“Manipulated shenanigan” to allow Najib to vindicate himself
Najib’s latest U-turn is bound to strengthen the people’s worst impression of his limpid leadership, especially amongst the the young professionals, many of whom are voters and want to see what Anwar and Najib each have to offer. A recent public survey too pointed out that more than 70% of this group wanted an Anwar-Najib debate.
“The whole of Malaysia can wait until the cows come home but Najib would never dare to take on Anwar. Najib has no vision, no ideas to offer – only public relations and gimmicks like RPK,” PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.
In a recent posting, RPK had called Anwar a ‘chicken’ for allegedly muscling him out of a TV program where the Opposition Leader was due to appear with WikiLeaks founder Juilan Assange. The pro-Umno RPK also said Anwar had no right to challenge Najib to a debate – better that Anwar debated him instead.
The Umno media immediately seized on these remarks, paving the way for Najib to attack Anwar for “inconsistency”. Critics, however, said the entire episode was a “manipulated shenanigan” and signaled Najib’s curtain call on Anwar’s debate invitation.
Pressure mounting for a reply
Indeed, it has been 2 weeks since PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution issued the second invitation and pressure is mounting on the PM to reply, especially with the 13th general election looming and the people keen to see what the two sides – government and opposition – could respectively offer.
But Najib would only latch onto the RPK remarks to justify and vindicate himself for ‘chickening’ out once again.
“It appears that he (Anwar) is not willing (to debate with Raja Petra),” Bernama reported Najib as saying.
“Sooner or later, the people will question him over his inconsistency. We must be consistent. When we say we practise democracy and we are open, while deploring the government for not being democratic and open. But actually, if we look at their actions like barring some newspapers from attending their press conferences… Is this consistent with what they are preaching all this while?”
No surprisingly then that Najib came in for ridicule as RPK did for hypocrisy. Najib had taken over from former premier Abdullah Badawi in 2009. His administration is regarded as the worst ever, pockmarked by corruption, record number of flip-flops and unprecedented racism and racial bigotry.
“It is certainly not consistent for someone like Najib to accuse another person of inconsistency when he has made the most ever flip-flops of the 6 prime ministers we have ever had, including Mahathir Mohamad who ruled for 22 years,” said Jui Meng.
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