KUALA LUMPUR: It's not a tradition for Barisan Nasional to engage in debates before the general election.
Caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the debate would not bring any benefit to the coalition.
"It will just be a chance for them (other parties) to offer their manifesto. All sorts of promises will be dangled, so I do not think there is a need for a debate (among the prime ministerial candidates from the three main coalitions)," he told reporters after being briefed by the police on both the preparations for the 15th General Election (GE15) and floods, here, today.
"Our victory will be based on the trust of the people, and that does not come from an hour of debate," Ismail Sabri says.
"There is no need for a debate. Everyone is busy at their respective constituencies now, with the upcoming GE15."
Pakatan Harapan prime ministerial candidate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had suggested that the prime ministerial candidates from the three main coalitions engage in a debate ahead of the Nov 19 polling day.
The PKR president said the debate should focus on policy-related matters and not be filled with accusations and insults against each other.