'Lim-Chua Second Debate Another Political Charade?', Bernama, 3 June 2012

Lim-Chua Second Debate Another Political Charade? KUALA LUMPUR (June 3, 2012): MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng are going to engage in another debate, on July 8, to try to convince listeners which party's policies better benefit the community. Even as the debate provides another platform for the two leaders to reach out to the audience and deliver their messages, some politicians and analysts are skeptical whether the debate will bring about the desired effect or merely become another political charade. ...... Political analyst Dr Sivamurugan Pandian believes the second debate will provide a rare opportunity for a politician from the opposition pact to reach out to a wider Malaysian audience through the mainstream media. "For Dr Chua, it would be an opportunity for him to show that MCA has done much and prove that the party is still relevant. DAP, on the other side, said they want to be an alternative even though questions remain whether they want to be an alternative to the MCA or in the context of the broader Malaysian population," he said. "But, in the end, the objective of the debate is to grow their support. It is not about who wins or loses, but more of a test about whether we are mature enough to face challenges within or outside the party," he added. He also said that such debates would not reflect the leadership skills of any politician, as it merely served as a platform for the politicians from both sides of the political divide to explore their policies and agendas rather than showing who can debate. "There are those who can't debate, but that doesn't mean they can't be good leaders. Maybe a different approach for a different target group is needed," he said. – Bernama