Malaysian govt scared of having debates

Malaysia's govt rejects call for US-style debate ahead of polls
philstar.com
Sunday, March 2, 2008 02:03 PM

KUALA LUMPUR (AP) - Malaysia's government has rejected an Islamic opposition party's challenge to hold an American-style public debate between their leaders ahead of March 8 general elections, news reports said Sunday.

Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party 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.