Nervous Guan Eng mixes up Chua's name
Guan Eng and Dr Chua (right) at the debate
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was so nervous that he mixed up Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's name at the highly-charged debate on Saturday.
Guan Eng, who was visibly nervous during the hour-long debate, began by thanking the moderator Tang Ah Chai.
When he was greeting his competitor, he addressed Dr Chua as Cai Li Xi instead of Cai Xi Li, and did not realise his mistake.
But despite this minor mistake, the event proceeded smoothly with the two heads of political parties trading political salvos on issues regarding corruption, election promises and government policies.
A woman cheering at the debate between Dr Chua and Guan Eng
The two political leaders, who did not have Chinese education, impressed the audience with their fluent Mandarin.
After a draw, Dr Chua was picked to start the debate entitled Chinese at a Crossroads - Is a Two-Party System Becoming a Two-Race System.
The MCA president agreed that a two-party system is good if checks and balances are put in place.
"Unfortunately, after March 8 (the previous general elections), we have seen the opposition practise the politics of hate with their relentless attacks on the ruling government, mainly just to wrestle power," he said.
The audiences cheering at the debate between Dr Chua and Guan Eng
Dr Chua continued criticising DAP – a Chinese-majority party led by Guan Eng – for its support for PAS and PKR.
Lim later expressed that DAP wanted a two-party system that takes care of the interests of all Malaysians regardless of race.
The debaters spent the rest of the evening tearing down each other's political and policy decisions, while defending their parties' plans to win over the Chinese electorate.
Published Feb 19, 2012
