PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has rejected a proposal by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to have a US-style public debate between the likely candidates for the top job.

According to Ismail, it is not in Malaysian culture to engage in such face-to-face events, adding that it would bring no benefit.

“It is not our culture to have debates. We have never done this, and it doesn’t do any good,” he said during a press conference at Bukit Aman earlier today.

Ismail went on to say that Anwar would only use the opportunity as a soapbox for his manifesto and make ‘bulan dan bintang’ (the moon and the stars) promises.

The prime minister was confident BN would triumph because it had earned the public’s trust, while adding that debates such as this were not on the cards because BN’s candidates were too busy on the campaign trail. – October 25, 2022.