According to the local dailies on Saturday, 23 September 2000, there will be no live telecast debate about Malay rights between UMNO Youth and PAS Youth. UMNO Youth Chief Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said it was not the movement decision. Television stations were not interested to broadcast live the debate between political parties. Furthermore, the UMNO Youth Chief added Pas Youth giving unreasonable conditions for a debate: the debate will be held in an open area where the people can attend, there will be a live telecast throughout nationwide and the meeting is in the form of debate.

I can conclude that the UMNO Youth was afraid to accept PAS Youth’s challenge for a debate on Malay rights. The UMNO Youth simply did not have the guts to debate with PAS Youth in front of the public. By saying it was television stations that were not interested to air the debate is a childish and ridiculous excuse that the UMNO Youth wanted to get out of the debate. No concrete reasons were given by the television stations to carry the debate live. I want to know why issues like Al-Ma’unah dan Oil Royalty had been discussed by television stations except Malay rights that I think Malay rights is equally important issue too. Why UMNO Youth was so afraid to accept PAS Youth’s proposal on having a live debate? Does UMNO Youth know they may not give satisfactorys answer and refute claims from the PAS Youth? Does the UMNO Youth have any agenda to hide from the public that will be revealed to the public?

It clearly shows UMNO Youth did not want a debate with PAS Youth. If UMNO Youth was serious and sincere, I am pretty sure the party will be remain adamant and keep insisting the television stations to allocate a suitable time in near future to clear of any clarifications that the public wanted to know. What’s wrong with the unreasonable conditions proposed by PAS Youth? UMNO Youth is afraid their true colours will be exposed in front of the public. I do not see anything wrong on the debate between UMNO Youth and PAS Youth. It is a suitable proper channel to figure out all the issues on Malay rights. The issue of which party will win the debate is not the question but I think as I have mentioned earlier, the issue of Malay rights need be discussed thoroughly and all of us will have a clearer picture about the issue on Malay rights after hearing the debate.

As far as I am concerned, I thought UMNO Youth is an out-spoken movement. On 18 September 2000, UMNO Youth led by Deputy Youth, Aziz Gangster held a "demonstration" in front of the Suqiu’s buliding demanding an apology from Suqiu which was harping a sensitive issue on Malay rights. If UMNO Youth has the courage to preserve and defend the Malay rights, the movement must have same initiative and courage to discuss the same issue with PAS Youth. The rejection of having a debate with PAS Youth does not make sense to me. No wonder certain people called the UMNO Youth Chief as Pondan Siam. Datuk Hishammudin must prove the critics wrong if certain people labeled him as UMNO Youth Chief who has no guts.

Double Sadness