Nazri: Public debate with Dr M will go on as planned
IPOH: The debate between Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will go on as planned.
“I have instructed Padang Rengas Umno secretary to assist the organiser, Sinar Harian, to obtain a permit for the debate today,” Nazri said yesterday.
“As the state acting police Chief Datuk Hasnan Hassan issued the statement that no application had been submitted by either party for the debate, we have sent our team to apply for it,” he said after his visit to the World War 2 Battle of Kampar site yesterday.
The Padang Rengas member of parliament said the debate, which would be held at the Sultan Azlan Shah Mara Junior Science College in Kuala Kangsar, was a discourse and not a demonstration, and as such, it did not violate the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
“No preparation is needed as it (the debate) would be limited to certain topics and I would answer the questions based on facts. “I will not hide any truth.”
Nazri said he respected Dr Mahathir as his former boss and the way he would respond to the questions would be based on how the questions were asked.
It was earlier reported that Nazri had agreed to a debate with Dr Mahathir on controversies involving Bumiputera Malaysia Finance and 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
Dr Mahathir has challenged Nazri to a debate after rejecting the latter’s call to contest the Langkawi parliamentary seat.
Dr Mahathir, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman, was recently appointed the party’s Langkawi division chief.