Much awaited debate in Muar called off once again

MUAR: The debate between two Muar parliamentary candidates has been called off again, apparently due to security reasons and public order.

Unlike the first “face-to-face debate” attempt at Muar Traders Hotel which was called off on Sunday night, yesterday’s debate was billed as a live streaming “casual dialogue” between Pakatan Harapan Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Seri Razali Ibrahim.

The dialogue was scheduled to be held at the Muar District Officer’s home at 5pm.

Instead, district officer Onn Jabbar, who is also Muar Returning Officer, held a joint press conference with the candidates’ representatives.

“I met both Razali and Syed Saddiq here at noon to discuss and advise them on the matter. I later held discussions with their representatives and both parties agreed that the casual get-together should be called off,” he told reporters at a press conference yesterday.

Onn, who heads the district safety committee, said the decision by the candidates to call off their meeting was based on his advice.

“I advised them that public order and saftey took precedence over any debate or casual meeting,” Onn said.

“There are only two days left for campaigning and I advised them to focus on their campaigns.”

He said there were genuine worries that a debate or meeting between Syed Saddiq and Razali would lead to provocation and untoward incidents.

A day earlier, the much anticipated debate was called off after Johor police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd said police would not issue a permit.

Mohd Khalil said the organisers had failed to submit an application for the event and also cited security and public order concerns as reasons for permit refusal.

However, Syed Saddiq showed up at the hotel on Sunday night and held a dialogue with his supporters.

PAS Muar parliamentary candidate Abdul Aziz Talib had said he was not interested in taking part in a debate between Syed Saddiq and Razali.