RTM will not air Dr M-Nazri debate
KUALA LUMPUR: Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) has no plan to broadcast the debate between former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said the debate is between both the individuals.
“Mahathir had challenged Nazri to a debate to be held at the latter’s constituency. This is a debate between the two individuals, it is not an RTM initiative and we have no plan to air it live,” Salleh said.
The debate is set to be held at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Kuala Kangsar in Perak on March 25.
Topics to be debated include controversies involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd, the RM2.6 billion in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s accounts, the East Coast Rail Line Project and the BMF scandal that occurred during Mahathir’s tenure as prime minister.
Last week, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang urged Salleh to broadcast the debate live over RTM.
On Saturday, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said they will allow the debate to take place as the ministry had received an application from the organisers.
The debate follows a challenge by Nazri for Mahathir to contest against him in Padang Rengas, the parliamentary constituency which the former held since 1995.
Mahathir countered by asking Nazri to contest against him in the Langkawi parliamentary seat.
Mahathir later said he would not contest in the upcoming general election and instead challenged Nazri to a debate, which Nazri accepted.
On a revelation by Najib that Malaysia almost lost a huge investment from Saudi Aramco due to the unpatriotic attitude of certain quarters which spread incorrect information on the country, Salleh said differences in opinion should be celebrated to uphold the nation, instead of bringing it to the gutter.