Share |

Tuesday 30 June 2009

Debate Can't Solve Issues, Says Najib

PUTRAJAYA, June 29 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said issues relating to the future of Muslims and the country would not be solved through a debate as suggested by Pas general adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

He said he did not see the benefits to be obtained through the debate.

The best way was to have sincere discussions, not a debate, he added.

Besides, he said, he found many quarters had disapproved of the debate suggestion.

"But before we can have a discussion, we should not condemn the other side.

"If we have humiliated and condemn the other side it means we are not looking for a consensus. Consensus is very important for the future of Muslims and the country," he told reporters here Monday.

Najib was commenting on Nik Aziz's call for a public debate between them to end the political stir between Pas and Umno.

Yesterday, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi advised Pas and Umno to resolve their quarrel through discussions and not through open debates while Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said a debate with Pas would be a waste of time.

Asked on the hostility showed by a number of Pas leaders to the unity talks, Najib said: "Actually Pas is split." There were people in Pas who wanted to sit down and those who vehemently opposed to it, he said.

"So, we will see what is going to happen. It is up to Pas. Umno has stated our position, in other words we are open about discussing with Pas.

"But it is up to Pas to decide what they want to do. The ball is in their court," he said.

No comments: