Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz his friendly debate with Dr Mahathir Mohamad was an attempt to encourage a culture of healthy dialogue to the country.
"He's my sifu (teacher), everything I learn, I learn from him. Everything that I do now, I learnt from him.
"So, I believe being a good student of his, whatever I do now is what his desired (from his students)," he told a press conference at Parliament today.
He urged the media to not sensationalise the debate and not portray them as bitter opponents.
"There is no such thing as beating (my teacher). I am trying to start a culture in this country whereby we can debate in a friendly way.
"Don't make it sound like a big fight between me and Dr Mahathir. Otherwise we will never achieve a culture we are trying to inculcate in this country," he said.
"Why can't we have a debate that does not necessary end up in a fist-fight ? Hey, I think the rakyat are fed up," he said.
"Why can't we have a debate that does not necessary end up in a fist-fight ? Hey, I think the rakyat are fed up," he said.
He said this in response to a question on whether he thought he could beat Mahathir during the debate.
Meanwhile, Nazri dismissed criticisms that the debate could be seen as a benchmark to the previous high profile debate that never took place.
"That was just views. All these opinions about debates written in the newspapers is cheap. Opinion is cheap because we never ask for it and they give it voluntarily," he said.
"And, because of that, I don't really care and I don't give a damn what people think about it," he said.- Mkini
"That was just views. All these opinions about debates written in the newspapers is cheap. Opinion is cheap because we never ask for it and they give it voluntarily," he said.
"And, because of that, I don't really care and I don't give a damn what people think about it," he said.- Mkini
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