Public debate not for quarrelling: Khairy

UMNO Youth vice-chief Khairy Jamaluddin said yesterday the public debate he proposed to those who had qualified to contest for the movement's chief post was to provide an avenue for them to explain their vision.
Stressing that the debate was not for quarelling, Khairy, the second candidate to have qualified to contest the post, said it would be conducted in a responsible and orderly manner.
"The debate will be gentlemanly conducted" he told reporters at the MIC Deepavali open house at the Putra World Trade Centre.
He thanked former Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo for agreeing to the debate.
Khairy,however,declined to comment on the refusal of another candidate, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, to be drawn into the debate.
Mukhriz is the first candidate to have qualified to contest for the post and currently has the most nominations.
When asked of his chances at the party polls, Khairy said he believed his chances remain bright.
In Jeli, Umno supreme council member Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said the time had not arrived to hold an open debate as a way to elect party leaders.
He said the party currently needed to consider various aspects, including the risk, when holding an open debate as suggested by several Umno leaders. He added, speaking up is already there but to him , Umno has not gully matured. . Mustapha, who retained the post of Jeli Umno head uncontested, told reporters this after opening the division's delegates conference in Bukit Bunga Umno Complex in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
He said if an open debate was to be held, his concern was that the grassroots members would only elect good orators rather than really credible cabdidadtes who can work for the party.
"It is important for us to make the correct choice, not because he is a good orator."
"If debates were held,our concern is members, charmed by his eloquence, will elect the candidate even though he cannot do work," the agriculture and agro-based industry ministry minister said.