Zahid ‘agrees’ to debate Ku Li and KJ on Astro Awani

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 7 years ago · Published on 22 Jun 2018 11:40PM · 2 Comments

Astro Awani anchor Kamarul Bahrin Harun accepting acting Umno president Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi terms to join the debate among the party's presidential hopefuls. – Astro Awani screen grab, June 22, 2018.

THERE may yet be a live debate between Umno’s three presidential hopefuls on June 29 after favourite Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi agreed to one during a live interview tonight.

At the end of the 30-minute interview on Astro Awani, news anchor Kamarul Bahrin Harun asked Zahid if he would be willing to join the debate with veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Khairy Jamaluddin on the network. 

Zahid initially tried to downplay the necessity of having a debate.

“I want to repeat what information chief Anuar Musa said the other day about how a debate is unnecessary.

“This (Umno elections) is a family affair. Debates between family members do not need to be brought out to the streets for all to watch because they will see that we have a problem,” said Zahid.

“But I’m willing to take part if the intention of the debate is not about our differences that could end up splitting Umno further. But the telecast has to be aired from Bagan Datoh.” 

The former deputy prime minister said he would be in his constituency on the eve of Umno’s party polls on June 30.

On that, Kamarul rose to shake Zahid’s hand and said he would accept his terms on behalf of Astro Awani.

“We don’t want to split Umno but we will have two president candidates in the studio and the other in Bagan Datoh on June 29,” as he ended the programme. – June 22, 2018.

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Comments

  • UMNO election is a "family affairs" with dirty laundry that cannot be aired. Elections are about public policies, public agenda even if its with family. If UMNO public agenda are "family affairs" with dirty laundry then its a dysfunctional one..

    Posted 7 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • By right if gentleman enough all the three debaters should share a live stage face to face with a neutral moderator.To have two at astro awani n inline live with another in a different avenue speaks volumes of the cowardly conduct of the strayed one.Anyway as the Chinese saying no prawns fish will also do

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Thian Siong · Reply