| Election debates: Just do it! |  |  |  |
| Posted by admin | |
| Tuesday, 04 March 2008 07:50 | |
| Debates before election should become our culture. We have debating clubs in schools and in universities. We hear people debate on the streets, in warongs and coffee shops. We must elevate debates beyond these premises. A REPUBLIC OF VIRTUE Dr Azly Rahman http://azlyrahman-illuminations.blogspot.com/ During presidential elections in the United States, it has become customary for the main candidates (almost always the candidates of the two main parties, currently the Democratic Party and the Republican Party) to engage in a debate. The topics discussed in the debate are often the most controversial issues of the time, and some have said that elections can be won or lost based on these debates…. Presidential debates are held late in the election cycle, after the political parties have nominated their candidates. The candidates meet in a large hall, often at a university, before an audience of citizens. The formats of the debates have varied, with questions sometimes posed from one or more journalist moderators and in other cases members of the audience - from Wikipedia Malaysia's government has rejected an Islamic opposition party's challenge to hold an American-style public debate between their leaders ahead of the March 8 general election, news reports said on Sunday. PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang recently dared Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to hold a televised debate similar to those held by US presidential candidates…But the Sunday Star newspaper quoted Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz as saying there was no place for such debates in Malaysia.. "We don't follow the American system in our country. We (the country's leaders) should be debating with villagers or town folks concerning local issues affecting them," she said in the report. - Malaysia Today, March 1, 2008 What is the problem of having televised debates? I do not see any. The politicians for the ruling party and the aspiring parties are intelligent enough to hold debates for the benefit of the people who are also getting more intelligent. We have been independent for 50 years. We are no longer colonised by the British "bloodsuckers" who wanted us to become merely tools of their Empire. We cannot say that we are still not ready. Our politicians are mainly university graduates; some form Oxford, Cambridge, some form Harvard and Columbia, some from Monash and Australian National University, some from top universities in Asia such as University of Malaya. There is no reason why they cannot show the public that they can debate on critical issues facing the nation. We are having an elections at the time when America is having hers too. We should take this opportunity to emulate what is good from the world's most advanced liberal democracy. We must learn how they debate on election issues. It will be an exciting and education moment not only for the candidates but also for the nation. Sensitive issues I think the politicians and the people they want votes form are ready to listen to the pros and cons of arguments on the elections, I think we are even ready to talk about sensitive issues – on rights and responsibilities as citizens. Those who say we are not ready to debate are the ones not ready to debate. They are imposing their fear and ignorance on others. In debates, not just charisma will be a plus, but wit, intelligence, and good arguments that appeal to the audience count as well. Candidates will be given the chance to be scrutinized on all these qualities. My view is that if a candidate is ready to be nominated, he/she is ready to make a stand on issues and articulate them to the constituents. Only then we will know how to differentiate between street politicians and budding statesmen. In a debate, it is the appeal to reason, more than to emotions that will ultimately count. The outcome is how these candidates will best present the assets and liabilities of taking this or that stand. Role of universities I see Malaysian universities playing a role in hosting these debates. This will be a new dawn of world-classism as a standard to be achieved. I'd like to see all universities enriching the minds of the students with the "blue ocean" strategy of hosting events that will celebrate diverse political points of view. Every day before voting day can be a time when each candidate for parliament and state seats be given the platform to debate on issues. It would be good to listen to candidates of Umno debating with those of PAS, DAP, PKR or even with an independent. We can then teach our children what it takes to be a Malaysian politician. As an educator I have had the chance to train and groom debators. A number of them went on to Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, Cambridge, Wharton School of Business, College de France and many top American and British universities. These are kampong kids trained in the rigour of public debates. They acquire the skills of argumentation through debates. Political debates event should be made open to the public. Schoolchildren, government servants, businessmen and women, homemakers/housewives and househusbands can all come and be educated of the issues before they cast their votes. There is no need to give them money, kain pelikat, kain batik, sacks of rice, Gucci and Coach handbags, vacation trips, or even huge contracts to make them vote – all will be about respecting the mind of the voters by turning them into intelligent voters who use rational arguments to make rational choices. Create debating culture We need to broadcast, telecast, simulcast, and podcast these debates not only for Malaysians to see but for the world to enjoy as well. If we can send a man into space and groom our Mat Rempits to compete internationally or send them bungee-jumping or skydiving in the North Pole, we should be able to set up political debates. Debates before election should become our culture. We have debating clubs in schools and in universities. We hear people debate on the streets, in warongs and coffee shops. We must elevate debates beyond these premises. I see that we will evolve into an intelligent society if we encourage public debates before the nation votes. We will become Athenians. We may even produce our own Ciceros and Sukarnoes or even Barack Obamas. We must debate all sensitive issues and desensitize the nation into making intelligent choices at every election. I suggest our universities host these televised and broadcast debates and show the public that our higher education institutions are not only world-class champions of diversity but also use the 'blue ocean' strategy to celebrate radical thinking in universities. "Just do it", as a Nike slogan goes. Comments (23)  ... written by Atheist, March 04, 2008 08:14:01 Now ... Now ... debates are people who can think, educated, professional etc etc. UMNO / BN is and never will be ready for this !!! Just imagine Samy Vellu up there debating against a Std 5 student ....!!!!! report abuse disagree 0 agree 17 ... written by JUST, March 04, 2008 08:18:10 http://www.youtube.com/hillaryclinton report abuse disagree 1 agree 1 ... written by TruthSayer, March 04, 2008 08:19:18 The refusal of the BN to have a debate with PAS or any of the other opposition parties is ample proof that the BN know they have failed the Rakyat. They have chosen to hide behind their Media Machinery that is constantly spewing forth lies and misrepresentations to continue fooling the common folk especially those in the rural areas who do not have internet access to get the real truth. A televised debate will only expose their lies and show the many abuses they have inflicted on the resources of the country. It is up to those of us who have access to the real truth to spread the message to our rural neighbors. Lets all do our part and bring change for the betterment of all Rakyat in Malaysia. Vote for Change!! report abuse disagree 0 agree 10 ... written by cwy, March 04, 2008 09:50:27 written by cwy, March 04, 2008 | 09:41:38 How you expect the UMNO people participating in debates of any form! They cant even give an impressive personal speech! Some are murmuring, some are using broken language, some are screaming, some are waving fist and kris...Just forget it...Just half-past-six leaders! report abusevote downvote upVotes: 0 report abuse disagree 0 agree 6 ... written by Chuang Tze, March 04, 2008 11:53:43 Election debates will work against the BN that is why they are against it. They can't depend on their lies and will lose all the Malay votes as well once the rural folk have their eyes opened by all the issues raised in such debates. It is a sure way for BN to lose and they know it. The problem is the Malaysian voter has always been selfish, concerned with only what affects them personally. The electorate needs to have their minds open and their conscience awakened to the big picture, the Nation we love, Malaysia instead of petty, personal issues. BN can offer "sweets" and give way on some of these small issues, but these are the crumbs with which many of the electorate have been satisfied with over the years. It is time to look at the national and international issues that will determine the future of our country and our children and grandchildren. BN can only lead us into the ground. Malaysia's only chance is to change the Govt. of today and fill it with leaders of Vision, who will genuinely work towards the success of Malaysia and its people, with personal integrity. Economic & educational achievements amongst others will naturally follow a Just, Fair, and Transparent Govt. Out with the cowards, Barisan Najis !! VOTE FOR BARISAN RAKYAT !!! PKR< PAS< DAP !! report abuse disagree 0 agree 7 ... written by DontPlayGod, March 04, 2008 12:19:05 Why doesn't BN/UMNO want to have a debate, if they are so sure that they are the best choice for the people, and that they have been doing everything right? The answer is simple. The reason is that they will be shot down in almost every issue. They cannot answer most of the issues fired at them. report abuse disagree 0 agree 3 ... written by Richard Lo, March 04, 2008 13:52:03 now, now putting a bn candidate to debate with their opponent will definitely be an insult to their opponent. the bn candidate will be crying out; not fair, we want to have a more level playing field....i suggest we field a 5th grader against the bn candidate, that way the bn candidate will not cry not fair. report abuse disagree 0 agree 1 ... written by densemy, March 04, 2008 14:13:46 "Our politicians are mainly university graduates; some form Oxford, Cambridge, some form Harvard and Columbia, some from Monash and Australian National University, some from top universities in Asia such as University of Malaya. There is no reason why they cannot show the public that they can debate on critical issues facing the nation." Is this really true??.... Their behaviour and their comments suggest they graduated from the University of Drop-Outs report abuse disagree 0 agree 0 ... written by densemy, March 04, 2008 14:15:00 Or maybe when he says "some from top universities in Asia such as University of Malaya" he definitely is pulling our legs report abuse disagree 0 agree 3 ... written by hkh, March 04, 2008 14:19:53 We don't even have LIVE PARLIAMENT on TV, make this a new election demand! report abuse disagree 0 agree 4 ... written by Loh, March 04, 2008 18:26:19 ///PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang recently dared Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to hold a televised debate similar to those held by US presidential candidates…But the Sunday Star newspaper quoted Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz as saying there was no place for such debates in Malaysia.. "We don't follow the American system in our country. We (the country's leaders) should be debating with villagers or town folks concerning local issues affecting them," she said in the report. - Malaysia Today, March 1, 2008/// Rafidah Aziz should have said that the government dares not debate, not so much because there were no capable persons who could engage in it, but because the government has no way to justify its many actions, and to continue hoodwink the people if all the facts are known to the people. That is why the government chooses to control the press and other communications media, to prevent the people from knowing the truth. The government would not even allow live telecast of parliamentary sessions, to avoid showing issues raised by the oppositions, and the government response to them. The government intends only to fool all the people all the time, or at least the majority who would return them to power. When the Election Commission serves UMNO interests rather than the people in ensuring that the election process are free and fair, that the electoral rolls contain only the legitimate voters, and that the caretaker government doesn’t extract unfair advantage in utilising public resources for campaign, it can hardly be expected that the government would be willing to expose itself through a debate with the opposition. So, Rafidah Aziz was right that the government would not follow American system in Malaysia, because justice and fair play is never Malaysian culture. In fact, if the government could get away with it, they would have kept all the opposition members under ISA, for threatening national security in trying to ‘topple’ the government through general election. They are not as yet desperate to take this route to destruction, though other actions are directed in that direction. Rafidah Aziz suggested that government leaders debate with villages and town folks concerning local issues affecting them. She must have meant that the issues involved are within the purview of the public works department. Town folks and villagers are also concerned about national issues affecting the economy and personal safety, as well as all other issues which Mps consider fit to discuss. Would she openly support that parliamentary sessions are telecast live? We know that PM AAB were in attendance of parliamentary session on only five occasions over a few months’ sitting last year. Live telecast would only show that many occasions that he could not even read properly from prepared text. Public debate would scare the hell out of PM AAB. report abuse disagree 0 agree 3 ... written by Uncorruptible, March 04, 2008 20:40:19 All those who sleep with umno are NOT Chinese !!! They are TRAITORS ! Let us not fail ourselves this time. Let us not fail ourselves big time. Hisapmodin (spit) drinks beer. Hisapmodin (spit) unfit to be education minister for threatening to kill the Chinese with the keris. Hisapmodin (spit) takes commission from school bookstores 25% of gross sales. Hisapmodin (spit) impotent to solve school children heavy school bag problem. VOTE HISAPMODIN (spit) OUT !!!!! This Elections should decide whether God or Satan is in charge of Malaysia. VOTE OPPOSITION !!! umno (spit) is the colonialist of Malaysia. umno (spit) is plundering Malaysia without mercy. umno (spit) is a four-letter word that rhymes with luck. umno /mic/mca/grkn (spit) = AXIS of EVIL report abuse disagree 3 agree 2 ... written by Mat Keris, March 05, 2008 01:05:56 “Just do it” I am Mat Keris, and I endorse this message. May God speed up the change (to render positive difference in the life of the destitute, the disadvantaged, and the oppressed” Insha’Allah report abuse disagree 0 agree 2 ... written by Dr Azly Rahman, March 05, 2008 07:57:59 Dear Folks, Very engaging and enlightening comments, as usual. You must have been busy trying to figure out the outcome of the elections. Our mind must have been in the "what-if" scenario. Contradictions continue to emerge in the case of the Election Commission. What then must one do, if this body is to ensure an unfair situation? What will the meaning of this election? Again, we ought to be in the "what-if" and "what-next" mode. Why have we come to this point in our history? Where do we go from here? What will our children and grandchildren be learning from this elections if time and again grand fraud is suspected? That's why we not only need voter education but also a new paradigm of educating altogether. My article spoke of the hope for our universities to take the lead in introducing the concept of free speech, equity, and equality in the promotion of diverse ideas as we prepare the nation for voting day. But this is not happening because the structure of totalitarianism is ingrained. We have allowed our education system to become an indoctrinating system. How do we dismantle all these and re-school society? Folks, Offer big ideas of change through our forum; ideas that will move this nation. Quick fix suggestion will work to a certain extend. Questioning history and ideology and re-designing our educational system will sustain us longer. But again, how are we to do this when the system continue to re-elect itself and making totalitarianism less painful, more subtle, and all the more invisible? Educationalists out there, please offer suggestions how to ignite this revolution in the minds of our youth. We must engineer a cultural revolution. But where do we begin? Do we let Divine Intervention take care of everything? report abuse disagree 0 agree 2 ... written by raja seputeh, March 05, 2008 09:12:00 "We are no longer colonised by the British "bloodsuckers" who wanted us to become merely tools of their Empire. We cannot say that we are still not ready." Sir, misrepresenting history in this way makes you; a) a fool b) lazy c) malicious Your choice, but clearly you are unsuitable as a role model or spokesman for your nation. Maybe with your willful desire to distort truth for your own (unimaginable) ends, you would make the ideal BN politician. report abuse disagree 1 agree 1 ... written by Dr Azly Rahman, March 05, 2008 10:04:41 Dear "raja seputeh", Interesting comment, thought-provoking too. Please elaborate within the context of the article. What is "truth" in this matter? How do you relate colonialism with neo-colonialism in this case? Did the British empire not "suck the blood, sweat and tears" out of the people of the colonies, with the help of the local elites? Are we not seeing a newer form of colonialism in our own country? In what way have I "misrepresented" history in my article? report abuse disagree 1 agree 2 ... written by MalaysianIAm, March 05, 2008 11:34:13 dr. azly rahman, very thought provoking, as usual. no offence, but i really think you are not catering to the lowest denominator (our bn leaders). there is no point encouraging them to engage in the culture of debate when they cannot even speak properly, let alone debate in a civilized manner. i think with your position and articulate writing style you should address more practical issues. most of your articles belong to the higher level, addressing philosophical questions more than practical ones. perhaps it's because you've lived in the US for too long? let's not kid ourselves. we really cannot compare ourselves with the culture in the US. apparently our PM is an Economics major dropout. of course you can write what you want. just a comment. report abuse disagree 0 agree 1 ... written by raja seputeh, March 06, 2008 10:56:08 Dear Dr Azly, thank you for the time you have afforded me with a reply, truly, i'm flattered. i should also like to apologise. Firstly for my show of bad temper with regard to my original comment - they were injudicious and as that good man Muhammad said, "If you're angry, sit down. If you're still angry, lay down." Clearly i failed here. Secondly, i apologise for the brevity of my following comments, however, i'm sure that you too are more fixated by the election than arguing the toss with me. Thus, the big fat lie, 'Colonised'. Raped by consent.... i only give a damn about this, because perpetuating this untruth breeds a victim mentality and ultimately, paranoid, dangerous nationalism. 'Sucking blood, sweat, tears.' - of whom? the migrant chinese and indian labourers that were brought here to work the rubber, tea and tin industries that weren't here until the brits brought them here (including stealing the rubber and tea). This is, inferring your thoughts, therefore slightly less bad than say, Western Digital or Motorola establishing production plants here. It is certainly less bad than you utilising your resources to exploit the desires of the learners in the USA - hoisted by your own petard, Doc. Rationalise this in context of your article? No thanks, your statements were in context and i'm not keen to encourage mitigation. Similarly, moving from the specific 'colonialism' of Malay(si)a to the general 'colonisers of colonies' is moving the goalposts. Anyway, i would prefer to end this spat (i feel i've exhausted my interest in this, unless you care to correct me) with positive thoughts of a bright day on Sunday, and acknowledge your considerable efforts (and results) in changing the mental paradigm to facilitate it. best wishes. report abuse disagree 0 agree 0 ... written by Cash Money, March 06, 2008 15:11:54 Move on chaps, the name of the game is a Borderless World (one world one rule ). You will be having instant nasik lemak worldwide soon, embrace it. report abuse disagree 0 agree 0 ... written by Dr Azly Rahman, March 07, 2008 02:19:19 Dear "raja seputeh" Your response humbled me and I learned something new from it, encouraging me to explore this issue in depth. I will however post a longer reply in regard to the innerworkings of colonialism from a personal point o view. To you and the rest, please continue our discussions. One more day and we'll have a lot to talk about neo-colonialism right here in Malaysia. report abuse disagree 0 agree 1 ... written by fearless, March 07, 2008 06:21:28 FAQs for 12th GE Q1: What would happen IF no Chinese ministers in the cabinet? A1: From past historical records saying that Chinese basic rights were eroded even with MCA ministers in the cabinet. MCA and Gerakan are toothless parties, they are no more relevant to the Chinese community. In the nutshell, with or without MCA/Gerakan ministers in the Cabinet make no different to Malaysian Chinese dilemma. Q2: Why SPR withdrew indelible ink procedure in last minute? A2: To let BN releases their phantom voters on 8 March 2008. Q3: Why more personal attacks on Anwar Ibrahim in recent days? Q3: BN is started worrying that Anwar may change the political landscape if urban Malays decide to revolt against UMNO. In addition, Chinese and Indian voters are very upset with Abdullah unfulfilled promises made in past GE besides other bread and butter issues. BN cannot attack Anwar's popular poverty based-NEP, the next best option is launching a character assault against him. Q4: Foreign investors want a 2/3 majority, but corrupted judiciary system and government? A4: Indian government with slightly more than 50% seats in parliament does not drive away investors. Clean, effective and fair government is more important for foreign investors. report abuse disagree 0 agree 0 Write comment This content has been locked. You can no longer post any comment. You must be logged in to a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet. |
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I am wondering now that during the debate if it takes place, can anyone from BN answer why there is such thing as bumi and non-bumi? Why Malaysian of all races who are born in Malaysia, not given bumi status. Is BN government really fair to all races?