the debate – who is the chicken here?

i’m talking about the debate between the present CM of penang (LGE) and the ex CM of penang (KTK) on the kg. buah pala issue.

well before the debate start (will it ever?), a debate had been going on, on the net, about who is the one who is chickening out on the debate.

first we had LGE saying all the time he is prepared for a debate with KTK anytime, while KTK seemed to ignore him. was he being chicken?

then suddenly KTK said ok fine he will debate with LGE… but with conditions.

conditions? can a debate come with conditions?

now LGE said no, if KTK is sincere, he would not have set conditions, and refuse to debate with the conditions.

thus we see KTK accusing LGE of not being transparent, for not want to fulfil the conditions.

so in a way, was he also saying LGE is the chicken now, chickening out of the debate?

well, let’s look at the conditions.

Koh demands that Lim publicly disclose the full text of all minutes related to discussions on the Kampung Buah Pala issue in all state executive council meetings during the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) and current PR administrations.

He also wants Lim to answer three questions — did the PR leaders, especially those in the DAP, promise Kampung Buah Pala residents before and during the 12th general election that if they were elected into power, the residents could own and stay on the land as it would not be allowed to be developed; before the Kampung Buah Pala land was alienated to the Penang State Civil Service Co-operative, did it belong to the state government or the residents; and why did Lim allow the transfer of the Kampung Buah Pala land titles to come into effect on March 27, 2008, almost three weeks after he was voted into power and despite being approached by villagers on March 12?

i don’t mind the first part as KTK was fair to demand for BOTH minutes of BN and PR but why must LGE answer those 3 questions first? aren’t those 3 questions suppose to be debated during the debate itself? hmm… i suppose KTK wants to link the questions to the minutes? he wants the answers/proof of the questions to be found in the minutes… right?

anyway, whatever, my two cents (oops. already more than 2 cents with the above) view is that, in a way, KTK is trying to wriggle out of the debate by setting these conditions, which he feel LGE might not want to comply, thus no debate! (also chance for him to fire at LGE). what do you think?