Buzz not yet abated
Batu Pahat coffeeshops still rife with talk on local boys’ debate
BATU PAHAT: A day after the debate between MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and DAP secretarygeneral Lim Guan Eng, it continues to be the talk of their hometown.
Most of those interviewed here said they were proud of the way their two “local boys”, who were educated in national schools, had handled the debate in Mandarin.
Businessman Tan Beng Chai, 43, said he was impressed with how fluently both Dr Chua and Lim spoke in Mandarin throughout the entire one-hour debate.
“Sometimes, I feel they speak better than many Chinese-educated people,” he said, adding that townsfolk were still trading accounts of the debate in coffeeshops.
He said from what he had heard, supporters of both sides had been moderate in their comments.
“We are all from the same town and have the feeling of camaraderie despite different political stands. I believe people here will continue to talk about it for some time,” he said.
Primary school headmaster Teo Peng Hock said he hoped to see more debates between Dr Chua and Lim, adding that the first round had been good.
“There is no right or wrong in debate. We admire them for their courage to stand on the stage and speak to a live audience.
“Both are very talented in their own way,” said Teo, who lamented that the debate was too short.
Fruit products wholesaler Tan Pan Poo said that although he was satisfied with the debate, he felt it could have been better.
“I had hoped that they would be more specific in their debate and talk more about how Government policies such as the transformation programmes affected the public and the younger generation,” he said.
However, he said it was “a good start” although the debate had focused more on their parties’ own achievements.
Tan, who is also Batu Pahat Teochew Association chairman, said the content of the debate would be brought up in their meetings, adding that he believed many local Chinese bodies intended to do the same.
“It will be mentioned during speeches in functions from time to time,” he said.