The debate last night between Umno Youth chief Khairy
Jamaluddin and PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli could act as the tipping
point for a 'prime ministerial debate' before the next general
election.
Asked by moderator Maszlee Malik if it is now time for
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to go
mano a mano with Pakatan
Rakyat's premier-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim, the audience got on their feet and
cheered.
"In 2008, we saw the McCain-Obama debate, in 2010 the
Brown-Clegg-Cameron debate and in 2011 we await the prime ministerial debate
between Najib and Anwar. Are you ready?" Madzlee asked.
To this, the
audience answered, "We are ready!" with much of the enthusiasm observed from the
side where Rafizi's supporters were seated.
Maszlee then proposed that
the host for the night - Malay daily
Sinar Harian - plays host again,
while he moderates what would be an epic debate, if it goes
through.
Spontaneous
proposal
Speaking to reporters later,
Sinar
Harian chief Husamuddin Yaacub said Maszlee's proposal was "spontaneous"
but the newspaper is ready to host any event that sees "a debate of
minds".
"
Sinar Harian will be a platform for anyone to (engage)
in a gentlemanly manner," Husamuddin said.
Piping in, Maszlee
(right), a Universiti Islam
Antarabangsa lecturer, said he had proposed it as he believes "this is what the
rakyat wants".
Rafizi said he had, after his first debate with Khairy in
London, asked him to request Najib to accept Anwar's challenge to a
debate.
"I have relayed the message to the PM and he said he will
consider it. I have done my duty," Khairy told reporters.
Last year,
Anwar, a former deputy premier, had challenged Najib to a debate on the economy
but the latter brushed it off, saying that the now PKR de facto leader will come
down with a fever if it ever happens.
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