Nothing2Hide dialogue only meaningful if Dr M attends too

Friday’s open dialogue by NGO SukaGuam will only make a real impact if both Najib Razak and Mahathir Mohamad are present together.

PETALING JAYA: While the efforts by SukaGuam, a law-based NGO in securing a confirmation from Prime Minister Najib Razak to attend an honest, open and interactive dialogue this Friday is to be lauded, the event would only make a great impact if former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad makes a showing too.

Both former and current prime ministers are currently on separate tours, with one asking for the other’s resignation, and the other defending his position and explaining controversial issues such as the debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

While Mahathir, Najib’s harshest critic thus far, has expressed his willingness to hold a public debate with Najib on issues the two seem to be at loggerheads over, the latter has remained silent despite many Opposition leaders, NGOs and members of the public feeling that only a face-to-face debate can put niggling issues to rest.

All the same, the ball is now in Mahathir’s court to decide whether or not attending the open dialogue called Nothing2Hide this June 5 would be in his best interests.

Speaking on Selamat Pagi Malaysia on May 31, the chairman of SukaGuam, Khairul Anwar Rahmat said this was the first honest and “interactive dialogue” of its kind in the country’s history where the PM would not only speak to an audience but also take their questions on a wide range of national issues so they could better understand the decisions taken by his administration.

“The dialogue will allow the audience to ask in person… because sometimes reading a statement someone makes is not the same as seeing them with our own eyes…their body language, their confidence, their sincerity.

“This is in essence what we’re hoping the dialogue will deliver,” he explained.

Organisers are optimistic the town-hall concept dialogue will attract some 1,500 people to the Dewan Tun Hussein Onn at the Putra World Trade Centre where a big screen will also be set up for the convenience of those who don’t have seats inside the hall.

Scheduled to begin at 9am, the two-hour long dialogue is set to be the talk of the town so members of the public are encouraged to make themselves free to attend.